UN expert group on disappearances to visit Argentina

18 July 2008

GENEVA—The UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances, will conduct, from 21-24 July, a visit to Argentina to take stock of the country’s efforts in addressing past cases of disappearances.

During the four-day visit, the Working Group will look into lessons learned and good practices in dealing with the investigation of past cases of enforced disappearances, the fight against impunity, and reparations for victims.

In order to gather first-hand information, the mission will meet with Government officials at the federal and regional levels, notably in the capital Buenos Aires and Córdoba; members of the executive, legislative and judiciary branches; the Defensoría del Pueblo de la Nación (national human rights institution); and civil society. It will also meet with families and victims of enforced or involuntary disappearances, as well as visit the ex-detention centre, ESMA, in Buenos Aires.

The mission is in response to an invitation from the Argentinean government and will be conducted by its Chairman-Rapporteur Mr. Santiago Corcuera (México) and group member Mr. Saied Rajaie Khorasani (Irán).

At the end of the visit, on the 24th July, the experts will hold a press conference in Buenos Aires.

Based on the information obtained during the visit, the Working Group will present a report containing its conclusions and recommendations to the Human Rights Council during its 11th Session.

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The Working Group was established d by the United Nations Commission on Human Rights in 1980 to assist families in determining the fate and whereabouts of disappeared relatives. The Working Group endeavours to establish a channel of communication between the families and the Governments concerned, to ensure that individual cases are investigated with the objective of clarifying the fate or whereabouts of persons who, having disappeared, are placed outside the protection of the law. In view of the Working Group's humanitarian mandate, clarification occurs when the fate or whereabouts of the disappeared person is clearly established. The Working Group continues to address cases of disappearances until they are resolved.

The Working Group is comprised of five independent experts from all regions of the world. The Chairman-Rapporteur is Mr. Santiago Corcuera, and the other Expert-Members are Mr. Darko Gottlicher, Mr. Saied Rajaie Khorasani, Mr. Jeremy J. Sarkin and Mr. Stephen J. Toope.

For more information on the Working Group, please refer to the web site: http://www.ohchr.org/english/issues/disappear/index.htm