The report analyzes the implementation and functioning of the State Search Commissions established under the General Law on the Forced Disappearance of Persons (2017), which emerged from the advocacy of families, collectives, and civil society organizations.

The law introduced a new extrajudicial search model, separating the tasks of search and criminal investigation to make the search for missing persons more effective. This model created specialized commissions that must coordinate with prosecutors’ offices, overcome bureaucratic barriers, and rebuild trust with families.

The study evaluates how these commissions operate in five states —Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo León, State of Mexico, and Mexico City— based on interviews and document analysis. It examines their internal organization, search strategies, coordination mechanisms, and relationships with victims.

The findings show that although the new model represents a significant institutional advancement, it faces structural challenges such as limited resources, administrative inefficiency, and coordination problems. Nonetheless, innovative practices and emerging efforts are evident among authorities and collectives to conduct more effective searches and strengthen access to truth and justice.