In Mexico City, a memorandum of understanding was signed between the National Institute of Genomic Medicine (INMEGEN) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). The agreement aims to strengthen the identification of missing persons through advanced genomic analysis techniques.
This event marked the beginning of a strategic collaboration aimed at strengthening the capacity of the Mexican state in human identification, with a focus on applied science, respect for human rights, and a commitment to the families of missing persons.
Dr. Jorge Meléndez Zajgla, Director General of INMEGEN, highlighted in his speech that this program constitutes a significant advance in putting scientific knowledge at the service of society, contributing to access to justice, security, and inclusive and sustainable development.
He pointed out that the consolidation of the project is possible thanks to the support of the UNFPA's Human Identification Program and the funding from the governments of Germany and Norway.
As part of the initial phase of the agreement, specialized equipment for processing complex bone samples was delivered. This will allow INMEGEN to work in coordination with the state prosecutors' offices of Quintana Roo, Tabasco, and Zacatecas.
The Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Mexico, Dr. Martha Lidia Pérez Gumercindo, stated that inter-institutional coordination with the support of international organizations strengthens compliance with the General Law on Forced Disappearances and allows for the consolidation of technical mechanisms to address this issue.
The ceremony was attended by representatives from the prosecutors' offices of Zacatecas, Quintana Roo, and Tabasco, as well as the Director General of Special Projects and International Coordination Funds of AMEXCID, Dr. Carlos Arturo Hinojosa Becerril.
The Ambassador emphasized the technical capabilities of INMEGEN and the talent of Mexican specialists in forensic genetics, which strengthens national capabilities without the need to send samples abroad.
A highly specialized multidisciplinary team is involved in this effort, whose technical work will be decisive for the development of the pilot program.
Dr. Meléndez Zajgla pointed out that this agreement reinforces INMEGEN's role as a national reference center for studies on the human genome, while boosting its international projection and the strengthening of sustainable scientific capacities aimed at addressing public health needs in Mexico.
The initiative will allow for the optimization of forensic protocols using genomic technologies, expanding the state's capacity to process samples more efficiently.
The UNFPA Representative in Mexico, Dr. Alanna Armitage, informed that thanks to the agreement and the funding from the German government, a donation equivalent to 3.1 million Mexican pesos has been made, destined to process 750 high-complexity genetic samples.
The head of the National Search Commission for Persons (CNB) emphasized that each genetic profile obtained represents an opportunity to advance towards justice and the reconstruction of the social fabric.
Dr. Carlos Arturo Hinojosa Becerril, on behalf of the Secretary of Health, highlighted the relevance of the agreement in consolidating a model of articulation between science, health, and human rights.
The Ambassador of Germany to Mexico, Dr. Clemens von Goetze, highlighted that this joint work constitutes a significant step in the fight against forced disappearance, contributing to justice and truth being materialized through high-level scientific tools.
