UN experts on enforced disappearances to review 400 cases in current session

The United Nations independent human rights experts on enforced or involuntary disappearances today started reviewing more than 400 cases, including recently submitted information on previous ones, and other communications concerning almost 40 countries.

The five-member UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances will hold meetings in Geneva between today and 11 November with government delegations and civil society representatives, as well as with relatives of disappeared persons, to exchange views on individual cases under consideration and on enforced disappearances in general.

The Working Group will also examine allegations submitted by sources regarding obstacles encountered in the implementation of the Declaration on the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance.

It will also hold discussions on two general comments, its methods of work, as well as on past and potential country visits. In addition, it will adopt its annual report, which will be presented to the UN Human Rights Council during its 19th session in March next year.

The Working Group’s current 95th session will last until 11 November.

Its Chair-Rapporteur is Jeremy Sarkin (South Africa) and the other members are Ariel Dulitzky (Argentina), Jasminka Dzumhur (Bosnia and Herzegovina), Osman El-Hajjé (Lebanon) and Olivier de Frouville (France).

Created in 1980, the working group’s members are independent and report to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva.