Catholic Church urges action against child recruitment in Mexico

The Catholic Church in Mexico has called on authorities and society to protect children and adolescents from being recruited by organized crime. In an editorial for the weekly 'Desde la Fe', the Archdiocese of Mexico emphasized the need to provide security and attention to youth before criminal organizations can exploit their desire for belonging and future aspirations.

The Church cited data from the Universidad Iberoamericana (UIA) Citizen Security Program, which reported that 1,338 children and adolescents died due to aggression in 2024. Additionally, as of September 5, 2025, 7,941 individuals who disappeared between 2019 and 2024 remained missing.

A recent report by the UIA highlights that Mexico lacks a specific registry for the recruitment of minors by organized crime. The report notes that recruitment tactics often include false job offers, threats, or the establishment of trust to exploit the social and emotional needs of young people.