WORKING GROUP ON ENFORCED OR INVOLUNTARY DISAPPEARANCES

Introduction

Was the first United Nations Human Rights Thematic Mechanism to be Established with
a Universal mandate. From commission on Human rights resolution 20 (XXXVI) of 29,
February 1980.
The mandate was most recently extended by the HR Council in its resolution 16/16 of 24
March 2011

Purpose

The primary tast of the Working Group is to assist families in determining the fate or
whereabouts of their family members who are reportedly disappeared.
The working Group serves as a channel of communication between family members of
victims of enforced disappearance and others connected to the disappeared person, and
Governments.
Following the Declaration on the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance,
the Working Group became entrusted to monitor the progress of States in fulfilling their
obligations derived from the declaration.
Reports of the communications and cases examined by the Working group is presented in
a table for each country. However, these are currently not translated

What the UNGWEID does and how

The UNWGEID is a channel of communication between families and the governments
concerned, so the disappearance can be investigated and clarified by the authorities in this
country. The ultimate goal of the investigation is to clarify the whereabouts of the disappeared
persons.
The procedures put in place are as follows:
1.

Reporting a disappearance can be done by an Urgent Appeal: The UNWGEID transmits

directly (within 1 or 2 days after receipt) to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the country
concerned cases that occurred within the 3 months preceding receipt of the report.
2. Cases of intimidation of relatives of disappeared people, human right defenders or
advocates working on cases of disappearance, or obstacles to the implementation of the
1992 Declaration can be both reported through Prompt Intervention for reprisals and
General Allegations respectively.
3. Country Visits are performed by the Working Group to assess the overall situation of
disappearances. These visits happen when the Working group gets previous consent given
by the relevant government. The working group release a report on such a visit

4.

The UNWGEID publishes Annual Reports 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.

Sessions and Annual Report

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. The Working Group meets, during the
first three days of each session, with NGOs and family members of the disappeared, as well as
with representatives of governments to exchange views and information on the phenomenon of
enforced disappearances. 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.
Activities of the Working Group on enforced or Involuntary Disappearances Nov 2011 Nov
2012
Sessions
Oct 30 - 31 2012 The Working Group held an event in Geneva to mark the twentieth
anniversary of the Declaration on the Protection of All Persons from Enforced
Disappearance.
o Oct 30 - discussion devoted to theme Exploring best practices and challenges to
protect women from enforced disappearance and its impact
o Oct 31 half day open dialogue between the Working Group and representatives
of States
Meetings
Attendees for this period under review were representatives of the Governments of
Algeria, the Gambria, Guatemala, iran, Japan, Morocco, Namibia, Pakistan, Spain, the
Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan and Uruguay.
Communications
During this reporting period, the Working Group transmitted 208 new cases of enforced
disappearance to 21 States

Of which, 59 were under urgent action procedure to Algeria, Bangladesh, the Central

African Republic, Mauritnia, Mexico, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, the Syrian Arab Republic,
Tajikistan, Thailand, Ukraine and Uzbekistan
The also clarified 74 cases; of which 61 were clarified with information from the

governments and 14 from sources

The Working Group transmitted 16 urgent appeals concerning persons who had been
arrested, detained, abducted or otherwise deprived of their liberty or who had been
forcibly disappeared or were at risk of disappearance.

Press Releases and Statements

August 30 2012 issued a statement to mark the second International Day of the Victims

of enforced Disappearances. The working Group observed that, while 20 years have
passed since the adoption of the Declaration, the practice of enforced disappearance was
still used in certain countries to repress and intimidate people claiming their rightsand
emphasized how families of the disappeared, even though those disappearances occurred
decades before, should enjoy the right to the truth, justices, and reparation.
Also issued press releases concerning China, Colombia, Mexico and Spain

Country Visits
At the invitation f the Governments, the Working Group visited chili and Pakistan to
examine initiatives and policies undertaken relating to enforced or involuntary
disappearances and to gather information on cases of enforced or involuntary
disappearances.
Follow up reports
The Working Group prepared follow-up reports on the implementation of
recommendations made following its visits to El Salvador and Morocco. The working
group emphasized that an investigation should b conducted for as long as the fate of the
victim of enforced disappearance remains unclarified, and that no amnesty law should
bring an end to a States obligation to investigate.
General Comments
The working Group finalized two general comments on Children and women affected by
enforced disappearances which were adopted by the working Group at its ninety-eighth
session

Reparations

Referred by the term redress in article 19 of the Declaration

Measures intended to help relative cope with the consequences of the absence of the
disappeared person.
The working group does not differentiate between direct and indirect victims but
acknowledges that both the disappeared and those who have suffered as a resulf of the
disappearance are considered as victims of the enforced disappearance and therefore are
entitled to obtain reparation

Forms of Reparation
1.
2.
3.
4.

Restitution
Compensation
Rehabilitation
Satisfaction and guarantee of non-repetition