Experiences in the Judicialization of Cases of Disappeared Children inLatin America
- Prensa APB
- Jun 10
- 2 min read
On May 30, 2025, as part of the International Week of the Disappeared Detainee, the
Asociacion Pro-Busqueda held a forum to share experiences in the judicialization of cases of disappeared children in Latin America. The event featured speakers from across the region.
Children in Latin America.
The forum featured participation from Lic. Hector Estuardo Reyed Chiquin of Guatemala; Dr. Florentin Melendez Padilla of El Salvador; Lic. Ana Julia Escalante from the Asociación Pro-Busqueda; and Manuel Goncalves Granadam, a grandson who was reunited through the efforts of the Grandmothers of the Plaza de Mayo. Drawing from their experiences and expertise, they provided valuable insights for public officials–such as those from the Judicial
Branch, the public Prosecutor’s Office, and other state institutions involved in carrying out the measures ordered by the Inter-American Court in the context of prosecuting cases of disappeared children.
The speakers shared concrete experiences from their countries to illustrate how the judicialization of cases of disappeared children has been addressed in contexts of political violence and armed conflict. Through these testimonies, they offered both conceptual violence and armed conflict. Through these testimonies, they offered both conceptual and practical tools to help strengthen the capacities of public officials. Lic. Reyes, for his part, presented emblematic cases of serious human rights violations in Guatemala, such as those committed against the Ixil ethnic group and the Molina Theissen case. He also discussed the complexity of the evidentiary process in these types of cases, emphasizIng the importance of the principle of free evaluation of evidence enshrined in Article 180 of the Guatemalan Criminal Procedure Code. He highlighted that, in exceptional situations, the legal frameworks must provide adequate mechanisms to ensure effective investigations and access to justice.
Children in Latin America.
Dr. Florentin Melendez, for his part, called on Salvadoran prosecutors, judges, and attorneys to reflect on the serious human rights violations that have occurred in the country, particularly in relation to enforced disappearance–a crime he described as one of the most serious and not subject to any statute of limitations. He emphasized that these disappearances did not only take place during the armed conflict, but have deeper historical roots and continue to persist today.
