Disappearing in the DR: oblivion as an outcome

In the Dominican Republic, cases of missing persons highlight the deficiencies of the system. For many families, the word search ceases to be an action and becomes an endless wait, marked by a hope that wears away with the days and by questions that time often does not answer. The actions, especially when it comes to children, usually begin with visible deployments, massive operations and institutional promises, but often end up trapped in silence, misinformation and the absence of conclusions. Every year, new disappearances shake communities. At first, the reaction is automatic: neighbors organize, announce protocols, the media amplifies the outcry. However, as the days pass and there are no concrete results, public interest wanes, searches fade, and cases remain open without clear explanations.

Missing minors and a system that doesn't respond

The vulnerability of childhood contrasts with the fragility of a system that fails to offer answers. The organizations search, but do not explain; they investigate, but do not conclude. The cases of Ronaldi Calderón and Brianna Genao Rosario crudely illustrate this problem. Ronaldi, 3 years old, disappeared on March 30, 2025 while playing in the yard of a relative's house, in the community of Manabao, Jarabacoa. Brianna, also of the same age, was reported missing on December 31 around 5:00 in the afternoon, in the Barrero sector, Imbert municipality, Puerto Plata province. Since then, the whereabouts of both are unknown and marked by uncertainty, fear and a hope that resists dying. In addition to these cases is that of Kendry Alcántara, 4 years old, who disappeared on April 2, 2022, in the Los Montones sector, Juan de Herrera municipality, San Juan province.  That afternoon, Pamela García, the child's mother, received a neighbor at her house, who asked her to do her makeup. Upon finishing this task, García went out in search of his son and found that he was not in any nearby place, thus triggering an intense search without conclusive results. The most disturbing thing is not only the disappearance itself, but what happens afterwards: the permanent mourning. Families are trapped in an emotional and legal limbo, without the possibility of demanding justice based on proven facts. The country, meanwhile, continues its course, as if the passage of time could erase collective responsibility.

A recurring structural failure

These cases are not isolated incidents; they demonstrate a structural failure. The Dominican Republic lacks a comprehensive, transparent, and permanent system for tracking missing persons, especially minors. There are no clear and updated public statistics, nor periodic reports explaining what was investigated, what was ruled out, and why a conclusion was not reached. While the disappeared continue to remain unanswered, the country will continue to fail in its most basic duty: to protect the most vulnerable and guarantee truth to those who wait. Because disappearing should not be synonymous with oblivion, and a search should not conclude without an explanation.