A day to remember the disappeared

GENEVA (13 November 2009) -- The United Nations Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances called on the UN to adopt 30 August as the International Day of the Disappeared, to place a greater focus on that problem at a time when the number of cases across the globe continues to rise.

 

Adopting 30 August as the International Day of the Disappeared would also be a fitting tribute in 2010, during the 30th anniversary celebration of the establishment of the UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances.

 

This day, which is already recognized by civil society and many people around the world, “would give greater emphasis to the right not to be disappeared,” noted the group of UN experts at the end of its 89th session, held in Geneva from 4 to 13 November.

 

During this session, the Working Group examined 25 reported cases under its urgent action procedure, and reviewed 466 newly-reported cases of enforced disappearances as well as information recently submitted on previously accepted cases from 39 countries. (More information attached)*

 

The Working Group, established by the UN Commission on Human Rights in 1980 to assist families in determining the fate and whereabouts of disappeared relatives, 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 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. Jeremy Sarkin (South Africa) and the other Expert-Members are Mr. Santiago Corcuera (Mexico), Mr. Olivier de Frouville (France), Mr. Darko Gottlicher (Croatia) and Mr. Osman El-Hajjé (Lebanon).