DUSHANBE, September 21, 2015, Asia-Plus — The United Nations Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances (WGEID) on September 18 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.
During the presentation of its annual report to the Human Rights Council last week, the current Chair of the expert group Ariel Dulitzky noted that in many countries, Governments have “more information on the number of mobile phones there than on the number of disappeared persons.”
“One person is probably being disappeared in one of your countries as we are talking,” he told the Council’s 47 member States.
According to the WGEID’s website, Dulitzky also added that is very worrisome that, in 2015, the Working Group continues daily to receive new cases of enforced disappearances.
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.
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 reportedly 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 Working Group will hold its 108th session in February 2016 in Morocco.
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 endeavors 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.
An enforced disappearance is defined by three cumulative elements: 1) deprivation of liberty against the will of the person; 2) involvement of government officials, at least by acquiescence; and 3) Refusal to acknowledge the deprivation of liberty or concealment of the fate or whereabouts of the disappeared person.
The Working Group holds three sessions during the year. The Group”s meetings are held in private. During the session, the Working Group reviews newly-submitted cases of enforced disappearances and information on previously accepted cases. In addition, the Working Group reviews general allegations, based on information from non-governmental organizations concerning reported obstacles encountered in the implementation of the Declaration on the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance. Following each session, the Working Group informs Governments, in writing, of decisions taken with regard to disappearances in their country. The WGEID reports annually to the Human Rights Council on its activities, informing also on its communications with governments and NGOs, its missions, all cases of disappearance received during the year, and the implementation of the 1992 Declaration.
