Nitza, Mitzy and Deisy Alvarado were only 14 and 11 years old when their mother, Nitza Paola Alvarado Espinoza, was taken and disappeared by the Mexican military on December 29, 2009.





Since that date, the three young ladies have become activists throughout Mexico and the United States in search of their mother and two family members, Jose Angel Alvarado Espinoza and Rocio Irene Alvarado Reyes.

Case before the Inter-American Court for Human Rights

The Inter-American Court for Human Rights (IACHR) reviews human rights concerns in 35 countries throughout the world, including Mexico.  Their focus is to uphold and promote the basic rights of the Americas.



The case of the Alvarado family is the only case to make it to the IACHR from the former President Felipe Calderon's administration.  According to the IACHR, "[t]his is the first case concerning forced disappearance in the context of the fight against drug trafficking and organized crime in Mexico."  Read more.

Marching Throughout Mexico

Immediately after the disappearance of their three family members, the entire Alvarado family began the search of their loved ones.  In a matter of days, they had made their way throughout the state of Chihuahua filing complaints and reports in hopes of finding their family members.

As the frustration grew with the Mexican government's clear complicity in this crime and lack of investigation, the family continued participating in marches and protests throughout the country and the capital, Mexico City.

Final Phase

After more than nine years of searching for their mother, the IACHR will have a final hearing on the Alvarado case in late April of 2018.  Their case will result in a sentencing against the Mexican government to hopefully help pave a way for the implementation of an efficient process for seeking the other 30,000 people who are disappeared in Mexico.