Working Group on enforced or involuntary disappearances concludes its 127th session

Geneva (16 May 2022) - The United Nations Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances (WGEID) concluded its 127th session, which took place between 9 and 13 May in Geneva, Switzerland. This was the first session for Ms. Angkhana Neelapaijit, new member of the Woking Group from the Asia-Pacific Region, who took up her functions on 1st May 2022.Further to her appointment, for the first time in the Working Group’s history there is a majority of women as members. 

During the session, the Working Group examined 32 reported cases of enforced disappearances it had transmitted under its urgent action procedure since 11 February 2022, concerning Egypt, Pakistan, Russian Federation and Saudi Arabia.

It also reviewed 187 cases, including 43 newly reported cases outside the urgent action procedure, and updated information on previously transmitted cases concerning Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, China, Colombia, Egypt, Honduras, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jordan, Pakistan, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Syria, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, Uruguay and Venezuela.

The Working Group also reviewed responses from various Governments to prompt intervention letters, general allegations and urgent appeals. It adopted new general allegations, discussed its future and potential country visits, including a forthcoming visit to Uruguay from 7-14 July 2022. It also held an expert meeting on its current thematic focus on new technologies and enforced disappearances. Furthermore, the Working Group discussed its annual report and addenda to be presented to the 51st session of the Human Rights Council in September 2022 and adopted the study to mark the 30th anniversary of the 1992 Declaration on the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance, which will also be presented in September 2022.

In the spirit of its humanitarian mandate, the Working Group continued to document and discuss acts tantamount to enforced disappearances perpetrated by non-state actors. In this context, the Working Group decided to transmit one case to the de facto authorities in Libya based on the information submitted by sources.

The experts also met with relatives of disappeared persons, non-governmental organizations, State representatives and other stakeholders. They also received a presentation on the “Mendez Principles” on Effective Interviewing for Investigations and Information.

The Working Group, which will publish its first Newsletter shortly after the session, will hold its 128th session from 19-28 September 2022 in Geneva.

ENDS

The Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances is comprised of five independent experts from all regions of the world. The Chair-Rapporteur is Mr. Luciano Hazan (Argentina); and the Vice-Chair is Ms. Aua Balde (Guinea- Bissau); other members are Ms. Gabriella Citroni (Italy); Mr. Henrikas Mickevicius (Lithuania); and Ms. Angkhana Neelapaijit (Thailand).

The Working Group was established by the then 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. It also provides assistance in the implementation by States of the UN Declaration on the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance.

The Working Groups are part of what is known as the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. Special Procedures, the largest body of independent experts in the UN Human Rights system, is the general name of the Council’s independent fact-finding and monitoring mechanisms. Special Procedures mandate-holders are independent human rights experts appointed by the Human Rights Council to address either specific country situations or thematic issues in all parts of the world. They are not UN staff and are independent from any government or organization. They serve in their individual capacity and do not receive a salary for their work.

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