The Paraguayan government and Meta officially launched the "MAFE Alert" system on Monday, a technological tool that will use Facebook, Instagram, and Messenger platforms to expedite the search for missing children and adolescents. The initiative was implemented under the MAFE Law, enacted in December 2025.
President Santiago Peña emphasized that once the National Police activates the alert, users within a 160-kilometer radius of the last known location of the missing person will receive an automatic notification. The message includes a photograph, physical description, and details of the incident, remaining active for up to 24 hours or until the missing person is found.
The system is a tribute to María Fernanda Benítez, a 17-year-old teenager whose disappearance and death in May 2025 prompted the creation of the law. María Fernanda's mother attended the launch and was comforted by the initiative.
Walter Gutiérrez, Minister of Children and Adolescents, explained that reports can now be filed immediately without waiting 24 or 48 hours, as was common in the past. Simply contact the nearest police station or call 911 to activate the Search and Location of Persons Department's protocol.
It was stressed that "every minute counts" in missing persons cases and that the system's success depends on community collaboration. With this measure, Paraguay becomes the fourth country in South America to adopt this technology, inspired by the U.S. AMBER Alert system.
Official profiles @AlertaMafePy were created on Facebook and Instagram to centralize communication about active cases. Official data indicates there are currently 248 active missing persons cases in the country.