Monday, December 9, 2024

In the most recent Amnesty Urgent Action Letter, the Union has written to Governor Salomón Jara Cruz of Oaxaca, Mexico, urging immediate action to locate Ayuuk Indigenous rights defender Sandra Domínguez and her husband, Alexander Hernández, who have been missing since October 4, 2024.

“It’s alarming that someone so committed to Indigenous women’s rights has vanished. We must stand together to ensure Sandra and Alexander are found,” says Keegan Buckley-Boyer, TRUSU Accessibility Representative.

Domínguez, a dedicated lawyer and activist, exposed a WhatsApp group in 2020 where officials in Oaxaca shared sexualized images of Indigenous women, including her own. After filing a legal complaint, she and her family faced repeated threats and intimidation. According to local reports, there has been no clear evidence of an organized search effort for the missing couple.

This case is part of a much larger crisis: in 2024 alone, 10,228 people were reported missing in Mexico, adding to a total of 116,615 since 1952. Families who search for missing loved ones often do so at great personal risk, highlighting the urgent need for government intervention.

“I hope that Governor Jara Cruz will coordinate a thorough investigation and protect those who fight for justice. Human rights defenders in Oaxaca deserve safety, not fear,” says Buckley-Boyer.

TRUSU awaits a response from the Governor in hopes for immediate action to be taken. 

The Amnesty Urgent Actions Program allows for the Union to consistently take solidarity action regarding international human rights injustices that matter to students. Click this link to see injustices we have addressed previously, and for further information about this issue or to see a copy of the letter, contact the Equity Coordinator.