Many Governments have more information on the number of
mobile phones than on the number of disappeared persons
GENEVA (18 September 2015) – The United Nations Working
Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances* today called on all States to
assume the search of the disappeared as a priority, urging them to start by
recognizing the issue and determining its exact extent through the gathering of
clear and reliable records.
In many countries, Governments have “more information on the
number of mobile phones there than on the number of disappeared persons,”
explained the current Chair of the expert group Ariel Dulitzky, during the
presentation of its annual report to the Human Rights Council this week.
“One person is probably being disappeared in one of your
countries as we are talking,” he told the Council’s 47 member States.
“The time for words and promises is over. It is now the time
for action on behalf of relatives to support their fight for truth, justice,
reparation and memory,” observed Dulitzky, who also added that is very
worrisome that, in 2015, the Working Group continues daily to receive new cases
of enforced disappearances.
The human rights expert also presented the Working Group’s
reports on the regional visit to the Western Balkans, the follow-up report to
the recommendations made upon past visits in Mexico and Timor Leste and the
study on enforced disappearances and economic, social and cultural rights.
“We are grateful that virtually all delegations have
welcomed this important study as well as our future topic of thematic research
on enforced disappearances and migration. We would welcome any input from all
stakeholders thereon,” he said.
Talking about the follow-up report on Mexico, the Chair
welcomed the Government’s positive reaction to the recent report of the experts
from the Interdisciplinary Group of the Inter-American Commission on Human
Rights on the Case of the Students of Ayotzinapa. “We have met with two of the
experts from the Interdisciplinary Group in the context of our session and will
follow very closely the implementation of their recommendations as well as of
those contained in our follow-up report”.
The presentation of the Working Group to the Human Rights
Council coincided with the 107th session of the Working Group, during which Ms.
Houria Es-Slami - the first woman in the history of the WGEID - was appointed
Chair-Rapporteur of the Working Group. Bernard Duhaime was appointed Vice-Chair
of the expert body. They will both assume the new functions as of next week.
During the session, the experts examined under the urgent
action procedure 64 reported cases of enforced disappearances that have
occurred in the last few months – concerning China, Egypt, Kenya, Pakistan,
Syrian Arab Republic and the United Arab Emirates- as well as more than 381
cases, including newly-reported cases and updated information on previously
accepted ones.
Other countries whose cases were examined during the session
are: Albania, Algeria, Argentina, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Chile,
Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo,
Ecuador, El Salvador, Eritrea, France, Gambia, Georgia, Greece, Iran, Jordan,
Libya, Mexico, Morocco, Peru, Philippines, Senegal, Tajikistan, Tunisia,
Turkey, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Yemen and Zimbabwe.
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. “We are very happy to announce the confirmation of
our visit to Sri Lanka from 9 to 18 November”, the experts noted.
The Working Group also decided to prepare next year
follow-up reports on the recommendations made upon its past visits to the Republic
of Congo and Pakistan.
The expert panel held formal meetings with representatives
of the Governments of Japan and Ukraine. 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 continued its practice to meet with regional groups by holding a
meeting with representatives of the Latin American and Caribbean Group.
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. The meeting concluded with a discussion with
Estela de Carlotto, one of the founders and President of the NGOs Abuelas de
Plaza de Mayo.
The Working Group will hold its 108th session in February
2016 in Morocco.
(*) 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. Tae-Ung Baik (Republic of Korea), Mr.
Bernard Duhaime (Canada), 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. Learn more, log on to:
http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Disappearances/Pages/DisappearancesIndex.aspx
Check the reports presented to Human Rights Council here:
http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/HRC/RegularSessions/Session30/Pages/ListReports.aspx
How to submit cases to the Working Group?:
http://www.ohchr.org/Documents/issues/Disappearances/Communication_form_E.doc
For more information and media requests, please contact Mr.
Ugo Cedrangolo (+41 22 9179286, ucedrangolo@ohchr.org or wgeid@ohchr.org)
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