Families of Missing Persons Demand Justice in Ecuador and Argentina

In Quito, Ecuador, relatives of Lizeth Esthela Bunshi Muñoz, who vanished on 19 July 2026 after falling into the Machángara River, gathered outside the Fiscalía General del Estado to press for a faster, more thorough search. The family, represented by lawyer Freddy Ron, complained that search teams have been reduced and called for international forensic assistance to digitally reconstruct the incident. They also urged authorities to formally charge the five people who were with Bunshi on the night of her disappearance.

In Tucumán, Argentina, the sister of teacher Ángela Beatriz “Betty” Argañaraz marked the 20th anniversary of her disappearance by renewing calls for the location of her remains. Liliana Argañaraz criticised the lack of progress by prosecutors, noting that the convicted perpetrators are set to be released in August without revealing the victim’s whereabouts. The family denounced the continued institutional inertia and demanded that the justice system provide answers and reparations.