Statement at the conclusion of the 104th session of the Working Group on enforced or involuntary disappearances

GENEVA (19 September 2014) – The United Nations Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances* examined under its urgent action procedure 14 reported cases of enforced disappearances that have occurred in the last few months – concerning Egypt, Iran, Kenya, Mexico, Pakistan and Syria - as well as more than 2500 cases, including newly-reported cases and updated information on previously accepted ones.

Other countries whose cases were examined during the session are: Algeria, Argentina, Bhutan, Chile, China, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ecuador, Eritrea, Georgia, Greece, Iraq, Jordan, Morocco, Oman, Peru, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Tajikistan, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, Uruguay and Yemen.

The group of independent experts also focused on specific country situations, in particular regarding the obstacles encountered in the implementation of the Declaration. Members discussed their forthcoming and potential country visits, as well as future activities. The Working Group also reviewed responses from various Governments to prompt intervention letters, general allegations and urgent appeals.

The expert panel held meetings with representatives of the Governments of Angola, Algeria, Japan, Morocco, Qatar, Sri Lanka, and Tajikistan, and held a meeting with the African Regional Group. Informal bilateral meetings with other States were also held to exchange views on individual cases and on the issue of enforced disappearances in general. The individual experts also met with family members of disappeared persons and non-governmental organizations. The Working Group also met with the Committee on Enforced Disappearances to exchange information on respective activities and to further the cooperation and coordination between the two specialized bodies dealing with enforced disappearances.
During the session, Ariel Dulitzky was reappointed Chair-Rapporteur and Jasminka Dzumhur was appointed Vice-Chair of the Working Group.

The Working Group will hold its 105th session in February 2015.

(*) The Working Group is comprised of five independent experts from all regions of the world. The Chair-Rapporteur is Mr. Ariel Dulitzky (Argentina) and the Vice-Chair is Ms. Jasminka Dzumhur (Bosnia and Herzegovina); other members are Mr. Olivier de Frouville (France), Mr. Osman El-Hajjé (Lebanon), and Ms. Houria Es-Slami (Morocco).

ENDS

The Working Group was established by the UN Commission on Human Rights in 1980 to assist families in determining the fate and whereabouts of disappeared relatives. It 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 are clearly established. The Working Group continues to address cases of disappearances until they are resolved. It also provides assistance in the implementation by States of the United Nations Declaration on the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance.

For more information on the Working Group, log on to: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Disappearances/Pages/DisappearancesIndex.aspx

How to submit cases to the Working Group?: http://www.ohchr.org/Documents/issues/Disappearances/Communication_form_E.doc

Read the Working Group’s 2014 report to the UN Human Rights Council: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/HRC/RegularSessions/Session27/Documents/A-HRC-27-49_en.doc

Read the Working Group’s post-sessional documents: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Disappearances/Pages/Annual.aspx

For more information and media requests, please contact Mr. Ugo Cedrangolo (+41 22 9179286, ucedrangolo@ohchr.org or wgeid@ohchr.org)