Geneva Institute for Human Rights

The United Nations Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances concluded its 95th session, which was held from 1 to 11 November 2010, at the United Nations Office in Geneva.

During its 95th session, the Working Group examined 36 reported cases under its urgent action procedure, 460 newly-submitted cases of enforced disappearances and information on previously accepted cases.

The Working Group also examined allegations submitted by credible sources regarding obstacles encountered in the implementation of the Declaration on the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance and decided to transmit General Allegations to the concerned Governments.

The Working Group received delegations from the governments of Algeria, Iraq, Japan and Mexico to exchange views on individual cases and on the issue of enforced disappearance in general. It also met non-governmental organizations and family members of disappeared persons regarding obstacles encountered in the implementation of the Declaration in their respective countries. Members of the Working Group also held a series of informal bilateral meetings with some States with a view to enhance cooperation.

In addition, the Working Group met for the first time with the Committee on Enforced Disappearances to establish methodologies for coordination and an exchange of experiences and views. They decided to convene joint meetings in the future.

The Working Group also finalized and approved its 2011 annual report, which includes chapters on 95 States and a general comment on the right to recognition as a person before the law in the context of enforced disappearance. The report also includes all new cases and those already under consideration, and the Working Group’s major concerns and observations. The report will be presented at the 19th session of the Human Rights Council, in March 2012, together with the report on the Working Group’s official missions to Timor-Leste, Mexico and the Republic of the Congo undertaken in 2011 and follow up reports. All these documents will become public at the beginning of 2012.

The Working Group welcomes that 30 countries ratified the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance, that 12 of these countries have accepted the competence of the Committee to receive individual cases under article 31, and that 12 have accepted the competence of the Committee with regard to inter-State complaints, under article 32 of the Convention. The Working Group reiterates its call to States that have not signed and/or ratified the Convention to do so as soon as possible. It also calls upon States, when ratifying the Convention, to accept the competence of the Committee under articles 31 and 32 of the Convention.