UN experts urge greater protection for those fighting for rights of disappeared persons
August 31, 2013 - A group of United Nations human rights experts on Friday urged
greater protection for relatives and civil society groups fighting for the rights
of victims of enforced disappearances, noting that they are the subject of intimidation
and reprisals and require special support from UN Member States. “Families of the
disappeared and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are sometimes the only voices
in their countries calling for truth, justice and reparation for the victims and highlighting
the plight of the disappeared both nationally and internationally,” said the experts
from the UN Committee on Enforced Disappearances and the UN Working Group on Enforced
or Involuntary Disappearances. “Given their fundamental role, many of them are vulnerable
to intimidation and face obstacles in their fight to prevent and tackle enforced disappearances,”
they said in their joint statement marking the International Day of the Victims of
Enforced Disappearances on Friday, August 30. 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 seeks to establish a channel of
communication between the families and the Governments concerned to ensure cases are
investigated. The International Day was proclaimed by the General Assembly in December
2010, in a resolution which expressed its deep concern over the increase in enforced
or involuntary disappearances in various regions of the world. The Working Group
has listened to testimony from relatives working to discover what happened to their
loved ones, who have told the experts about the risks of speaking out. “Shortly after
submitting our cases to the Working Group, police officers started visiting our homes
asking us why we had 'sued' the Government,” the relatives said. “We are calling on
States to take or strengthen measures to protect relatives and civil society groups
working on issues related to enforced disappearances and prevent and punish any act
of intimidation, persecution or reprisal,” the experts said. A shortage of funds
is also a constant challenge for NGOs fighting for justice and the Working Groups
expressed concern for these “serious constraints” which can have devastating effects
for organizations trying to provide support for victims' families. “Today, we again
pay tribute to relatives, civil society organizations and all those women and men
who untiringly toil for the rights of the victims of enforced disappearance and to
eradicate this heinous practice,” the members of the Working Group and the Committee
said. “We call upon States and donors to renew their commitment to the fight against
enforced disappearances, in particular by providing adequate support to these key
individuals and groups who work so hard and so courageously.” (Source: UN)