Investigating the Disappearance of the 43 Students in Mexico

The Office of Congressman Alan Lowenthal, the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA), and the Mexico Institute of the Woodrow Wilson Center for International Scholars are pleased to invite you to a briefing on:

Investigating the Disappearance of the 43 Students in Mexico

The September 26, 2014 enforced disappearance of 43 students in the southern Mexican city of Iguala profoundly shook Mexican society and shocked the international community. Massive street protests ensued, and the case was front-page news for months. However, more than a year later, much remains unknown about this case.

Through an agreement with the Mexican government and the families of the disappeared students, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (the human rights body of the Organization of American States) appointed a group of international experts to provide technical assistance to the Mexican government in its investigation of this case. After six months of painstaking review of the case files and dozens of interviews with witnesses, victims, and the accused, the experts produced an extensive report that illustrated major holes in the government’s investigation of the case and provided recommendations for lines of investigation that need to be pursued as the case moves forward.

Please join us for a briefing on the work and report of the experts, including a discussion of the current status of the investigation and implications for U.S. cooperation with Mexico.

Featuring the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights-Appointed Group of Experts:

Claudia Paz y Paz (Guatemala)

Carlos Martín Beristain (Spain)

Angela Buitrago (Colombia)

Alejandro Valencia Villa (Colombia)

Moderated by
Eric Olson
Associate Director, Latin American Program, Wilson Center
Senior Advisor, Mexico Institute, Wilson Center

With opening remarks by
Congressman Alan Lowenthal

And closing remarks by
Maureen Meyer
Senior Associate for Mexico and Migrant Rights, WOLA

OFFSITE EVENT LOCATION:
Rayburn House Office Building 2255
Washington, D.C. 20515

The event will be held in Spanish and English; simultaneous interpretation will be provided.

Co-sponsor: