In the last ten years as many as 75,000 children have been reported as gone astray and 150,000 as disappeared, said the initiative to amend the Criminal Code introduced in the Chamber of Deputies in order to punish with more severe penalties any person who commits the crime of leading children astray or kidnapping them.
Based on data from the Mexican Association of Stolen and Disappeared Children (AMNRD), the number of disappeared children continues to grow. Marina Garay, PRI legislator, recalled that,
"unfortunately, not all babies born in our country are able to return home in the arms of their parents, because they are stolen following their birth. Sometimes this situation is completed inside the hospitals by members of the medical staff, those who are responsible for tricking the mothers into illegally delivering their infants to other women, and other times the babies are simply snatched."The initiative's preamble states that in the majority of cases the perpetrators complete the theft of newborns in the family by gaining the parents' trust. The demand for infants comes from men, women or couples who are physiologically unable to conceive.
"In other words, the removal of a child is one of the most tragic events for anyone, representing an affront to the institution of the family."Official figures of newborn theft are almost unknown in Mexico; however, the AMNRD has been commissioned to reveal the trend in the theft, loss, removal or retention of children.
"The association notes that in recent years more than 75,000 children have been led astray and 150,000 more have disappeared. In the first case, there are no investigative processes for the authorities, while in the second case, definitely yes, and the causes range from theft to kidnapping."
The National Registry of Missing Persons reveals that:
- 67 percent of victims are illegally stolen,
- 9.3 percent are voluntarily absent,
- 10.5 percent disappear,
- 2.3 are lost,
- 9.3 percent are stolen,
- 1.2 are kidnapped.