Resource Page: Analysis and Information on Mexico’s Ayotzinapa Case

Background on the Ayotzinapa Case and the GIEI

The September 2014 enforced disappearance by Mexican security forces of 43 students from the Raúl Isidro Burgos Rural Teachers’ School (Escuela Normal Rural Raúl Isidro Burgos) in Ayotzinapa, in the state of Guerrero, has become one of Mexico’s most well-known cases of large-scale human rights violations. In addition to the enforced disappearances, six people, including three bystanders, were killed and many more injured in the events.

Today, following an initial attempt by Mexican authorities to construct a false version of the case, the investigation into these crimes has partially advanced and the remains of three students have been identified, but impunity persists and the full extent of what occurred and who was involved remains unknown.

On November 12, 2014, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) signed an agreement with the students’ families and representatives and the Mexican government to provide technical assistance for the case. As a result, the IACHR formed the Interdisciplinary Group of Independent Experts (Grupo Interdisciplinario de Expertos y Expertas Independientes, GIEI), a five-person team of internationally recognized human rights and criminal investigation experts that was tasked with assisting with the search for the students, the investigation into those responsible, the attention to the victims of the attack and their families, and the development of public policies regarding enforced disappearance.

The Group of Experts worked on the case and presented two reports from March 2015 to April 2016, when their mandate was not renewed by the Mexican government. In subsequent years, the IACHR continued to monitor the case through the Follow-Up Mechanism to the Ayotzinapa Case under a new agreement with the Mexican government, the students’ families, and their representatives.

In 2019, under the presidency of Andrés Manuel López Obrador, the students’ families made an additional request for the GIEI’s assistance on the case, which the federal government transmitted to the IACHR. Two of the five original experts returned in 2019; in 2020 four members of the GIEI resumed work on the case in a technical cooperation agreement that has led to the publication of a third report

Commission for Truth and Justice in the Ayotzinapa Case 

Report of the presidency of the Commission for Truth and Justice in the Ayotzinapa Case, Aug. 18, 2022  

The Interdisciplinary Group of Independent Experts

Below are resources regarding the work of the Group of Experts:

• Sixth Report: Ayotzinapa Report 6, July 2023.
• Fifth Report: Ayotzinapa Report 5, Mar. 31, 2023.
• Fourth Report: Ayotzinapa Report 4, Sep. 29, 2022
• Third Report: Ayotzinapa Report 3, February 2022
• Press release: GIEI submits steps to follow up on their work on the Ayotzinapa investigation, May 1, 2016
• Press release: GIEI Analysis of San Juan River Scene and Zerón’s Explanations, Apr. 28, 2016
• Second report: Ayotzinapa Report 2: Advances and New Conclusions, Apr. 24, 2016
• Press release: Status of the new fire analysis of the Cocula trash dump, Apr. 6, 2016
• Press release: The PGR broke the agreement with the GIEI on the new study of Cocula dump, Apr. 1, 2016
• Press release: Progress and Challenges, Feb. 21, 2016
• Press release: Experts Present Initial Advances in the Second Phase of Their Mandate, Dec. 8, 2015
• Press release: Experts Outline Second Phase of Their Mandate and the Challenges Faced in Carrying it Out, Nov. 6, 2015
• Ayotzinapa Report: Investigation and Initial Conclusions, Sep. 6, 2015
  • English-language summary
  • Full Spanish-language report
• Fifth update, Aug. 17, 2015
• Fourth update, Jun. 29, 2015
• Third update, May 11, 2015
• Second update, Apr. 20, 2015
• First update, Mar. 19, 2015
• IACHR Agrees on Terms of Agreement on Technical Assistance to Mexico, Nov. 12, 2014
• Group of Experts’ webpage

The Special Follow-Up Mechanism to Ayotzinapa 

Below are resources regarding the work of the Follow-Up Mechanism:

• IACHR Final Report: Follow-Up Mechanisms on Ayotzinapa, November 2018
• IACHR Presents Performance Report on the Special Follow-Up Mechanism for Ayotzinapa, Mexico, One Year Into its Work, June 6, 2018
• Situation Report: Follow-Up on the Ayotzinapa Case by the IACHR Special Follow-Up Mechanism, June 5, 2018
• Special Follow-Up Mechanism to Ayotzinapa Case Makes Fourth Official Visit to Mexico, Dec. 12, 2017
• Follow-Up Mechanism to Ayotzinapa Case Makes Third Visit to Mexico, Aug. 30, 2017
• IACHR Public Hearing on Ayotzinapa, 163 Period of Sessions, Aug. 17, 2017
• IACHR Public Hearing on Ayotzinapa, 161 Period of Sessions, Mar. 17, 2017
• Follow-Up Mechanism to Ayotzinapa Case Makes Second Visit to Mexico, Apr. 21, 2016
• Follow-Up Mechanism to Ayotzinapa Case Conducted First Visit to Mexico, Dec. 21, 2016
• Follow-Up Mechanism work plan, Nov. 9, 2016
• Follow-Up Mechanism to Ayotzinapa Case Conducted First Visit to Mexico, Oct. 25, 2016

Argentine Forensic Anthropology Team

Since October 5, 2014, the Argentine Forensic Anthropology Team (Equipo Argentino de Antropología Forense, EAAF) has accompanied the forensic investigation as an independent expert on behalf of the students’ families.

Below are resources regarding the work of the EAAF:

• Apr. 2, 2016 statement
• Forensic study of Cocula trash dump, Feb. 8, 2016
  • Executive Summary
  • Full Report
• Sep. 17, 2015 statement
• Feb. 7, 2015 statement 
• Dec. 7, 2014 statement
• Nov. 24, 2014 statement
• Nov. 11, 2014 statement
• Oct. 24, 2014 statement

Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights

• Double Injustice: Report on the Human Rights Violations in the Investigation of the Ayotzinapa Case, Mar. 15, 2018
  • Executive Summary (English)
  • Full Report (only available in Spanish)

WOLA resources on the Ayotzinapa case

• Ayotzinapa 9 Years Later: Pending Tasks in the Search for Truth and Justice, 26 September, 2023
• Interference from Above Closes Doors to Justice in Ayotzinapa Case, 4 October, 2022
• Ayotzinapa Case: Key Points to Understand the Mexican Government’s New Actions, August 31, 2022
• Lies, Cover-Up, and Military Involvement: Third Expert Report Reveals Fresh Facts About Ayotzinapa Disappearances, April 4, 2022
• Seventh Anniversary of the Ayotzinapa Disappearances in Mexico: Advances and Challenges in the Search for Truth and Justice, September 23, 2021
• Six Years After Ayotzinapa Disappearances, Mexico Government Must Build on its Efforts to Provide Truth and Justice, September 24, 2020
• Mexico Makes Progress in Investigating Torture and Obstruction of Justice in Emblematic Ayotzinapa Case, March 27, 2020
• On 5th Anniversary of Mexico’s Emblematic Ayotzinapa Case, Members of U.S. Congress Urge Further Progress in the Investigation, Sept. 26, 2019
• Five Years On, Still No Justice for Mexico’s 43 Disappeared Ayotzinapa Students, Sept. 24, 2019
• The New Investigative Commission in the Ayotzinapa Case, June 28, 2018
• The First Year of Work of the Special Follow-Up Mechanism for the Ayotzinapa Case, June 28, 2018
• Arbitrary Arrests and Torture in Mexico’s Ayotzinapa Case, June 28, 2018
• No Justice for Mexico’s 43 Missing Students on Third Anniversary of their Disappearance, Sept. 25, 2017
• Update on Mexico’s Case of 43 Disappeared Students (September 2017), Sept. 25, 2017
• Mexico’s Failure to Improve Human Rights Record Means U.S. Should Withhold Conditioned Military Aid, Sept. 12, 2017
• U.S. Congressman Met and Sympathized with Families of the Disappeared Students from Ayotzinapa, Aug. 11, 2017
• Spyware attacks against outspoken critics of the government in Mexico, Jul. 14, 2017
• One Year Since the Group of Experts Left Mexico: The Ayotzinapa Case is Still Unresolved and Disappearances Remain High, Apr. 26, 2017
• NGOs: Follow-up mechanism for Ayotzinapa case must have the Mexican government’s full cooperation, Nov. 10, 2016
• State Department’s Decision to Certify Mexico on Human Rights is Contrary to Reality on the Ground, Oct. 6, 2016
• Zerón’s Resignation and Promotion: Mexican Government is Not Off the Hook for Obstructing Justice in the Ayotzinapa Case, Sep. 15, 2016
• Ayotzinapa Case: Negotiations between Mexico and the Inter-American Commission Continue, Jul. 13, 2016
• A Sad Day for Mexico: Reflection by WOLA Executive Director, Apr. 27, 2016
• Key Points from the Group of Experts’ Final Report, Apr. 27, 2016
• Mexico’s Government Obstructed the Investigation of the 43 Disappeared Students, Apr. 24, 2016
• 4 Ways the Mexican Government Obstructed Justice and Impeded the Investigation into the 43 Disappeared Students, Apr. 23, 2016
• Mexico’s Government Claims the 43 Ayotzinapa Students Were Incinerated in a Trash Dump. Here’s How They’re Wrong, Apr. 23, 2016
• Ayotzinapa Fact Sheet: Investigating the Enforced Disappearance of 43 Students in Mexico, Feb. 24, 2016
• Forensic Study Refutes Mexican Government’s Version of the 43 Students’ Disappearance, Feb. 10, 2016
• Experts Investigating Mexico’s Ayotzinapa Case Face a ‘Coordinated Defamation Campaign’, Feb. 5, 2016
• Mexican Government Claims “Accountability is a Top Priority”: Full Cooperation in the Ayotzinapa Case Offers a Chance to Prove It, Jan. 6, 2016
• WOLA Update on Mexico’s Case of 43 Disappeared Students, Jan. 6, 2016
• Human Rights Organizations Express Support to Advance Investigation into 43 Disappeared Students in Mexico, Dec. 8, 2015
• WOLA and 8 Organizations Support the Continuing Investigation into Mexico’s Case of 43 Disappeared Students, Dec. 8, 2015
• Event Video: Investigating the Disappearance of the 43 Students in Mexico, Oct. 21, 2015
• A Year Later, Major Holes Remain in Mexico’s Investigation of the Disappeared Students, Sep. 24, 2015
• A Year without Justice: Remembering the Victims of the September 2014 Attacks in Guerrero, Mexico, Sep. 24, 2015
• Main Findings of Recent Report by Experts Investigating the Case of 43 Disappeared Students in Mexico, Sep. 9, 2015
• New Report Casts Doubt on the Official Version of Mexico’s Ayotzinapa Disappearances, Sep. 7, 2015
• Human Rights Organizations Support Extension of Experts’ Mandate to Investigate Mexico’s Ayotzinapa Case, Aug. 20, 2015
• Group of Experts on Mexico’s Ayotzinapa Case Release New Findings, Aug. 18, 2015
• The Mexican Government’s Failed Investigation into the 43 Students’ Enforced Disappearance: New Report by Mexico’s National Human Rights Commission Highlights Shortcomings, Jul. 29, 2015
• Six Months after Disappearance of 43 Students in Mexico, Citizens and International Community Still Seek Justice, Mar. 26, 2015
• Group of Technical Experts Arrive in Mexico to Investigate Case of Disappeared Students, Mar. 6, 2015
• Human Rights Organizations Welcome the Start of the Interdisciplinary Group of Experts for the Ayotzinapa Case, Feb. 27, 2015
• Too Early to Close the Ayotzinapa Case, Jan. 28, 2015
• Event Video: Human Rights in Mexico: Recent Abuses Highlight Persistent Challenges, Oct. 31, 2014

Letters and Statements from U.S. Congress

• Members of U.S. Congress Write Statement in Support of Progress in Ayotzinapa Investigation, September 25, 2020
• Congressman Lowenthal And Colleagues Call for Truth and Justice on the Fifth Anniversary of 43 Mexican Students’ Disappearance, Sept. 26, 2019
• Congressman Lowenthal, House Colleagues, Call for Truth and Justice on the 4th Anniversary of Mexican Students’ Disappearance, Sept. 26, 2018
• Two Years after Ayotzinapa Disappearances, Menendez and Colleagues Still Seeking Answers, Oct. 3, 2016
• Cardin Calls for Justice on 2nd Anniversary of Mexican Students’ Disappearance, Sep. 29, 2016
• Congressman Lowenthal Floor Speech On Two-Year Anniversary Of Disappearance of 43 Mexican Students, Sep. 25, 2016
• U.S. Congress Expresses Concern for Mexico’s Human Rights Crisis and Sends Letter to Secretary Kerry, Aug. 10, 2016

• Members of Congress React to Report on Investigation into Missing Mexican Students, Apr. 25, 2016

• On Ayotzinapa: Menendez, Kirk Lead Senators Urging Continued U.S. Support of Investigation into 43 Missing Students in Mexico, Sep. 25, 2015
• U.S. Congress Members: Human Rights Violations Point to ‘Broader Pattern’ in Mexico, Jul. 2, 2015
• U.S. Senators Express Concern for Missing Students in Mexico, Nov. 26, 2014

Mexico’s Attorney General’s Office

On October 4, 2014, Mexico’s Attorney General’s Office (Procuraduría General de la República, PGR) took on the Ayotzinapa case, and on January 27, 2015, presented its theory of the case, essentially closing its investigation.

• Video presentation of the PGR’s case theory, Jan. 27, 2015

Additional Resources:

• The Ayotzinapa Case: A Cartography of Violence, an interactive platform that maps out almost 5,000 data points regarding the events that transpired on September 26 and 27, 2014 in relation to the Ayotzinapa case
• Centro de Derechos Humanos de la Montaña “Tlachninollan”, a Mexican human rights organization accompanying the Ayoztinapa case
• Centro de Derechos Humanos Miguel Agustín Pro Juárez (Centro Pro), a Mexican human rights organization accompanying the Ayotzinapa case
  • Centro Prodh webpage dedicated to the Group of Experts