The Ayotzinapa case as an example of how corruption, impunity and core crimes intertwine

Abstract

By presenting the case of Mexico, and in particular the case of the 43 students disappeared in Ayotzinapa Guerrero, this article argues that broad impunity combined with corruption can lead to the commission of core crimes. In order to understand the commission of core crimes in cases like Mexico we have applied the “corruption lens” approach suggested by Roht-Arriaza. As a result, the Ayotzinapa case is a perfect example of how impunity has led to high scale violence in the form of “crimes against humanity”. Finally, this article concludes that the implications of the case should be a “wake up call” for the ICC to be more active in the Latin American region.