Enforced Disappearances: Crime with many victims - Press Conference | United Nations скачать в хорошем качестве

Enforced Disappearances: Crime with many victims - Press Conference | United Nations

Press Conference: Chair of the working group on enforced disappearances, Gabriella Citroni -------------------------- Enforced disappearances have a ripple effect on the communities and societies where they take place due to the continuous nature of the crime, the UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances warned today (21 Oct). “Enforced disappearance is a crime with many victims,” the Working Group said. “It is not the victim of enforced disappearance alone who is victimized, but also the often-forgotten family members and loved ones, and, in certain circumstances, entire communities who suffer direct harm.” Briefing reporters in New York City after addressing the UN General Assembly, Gabriella Citroni, Chair-Rapporteur of the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances, reported that since its inception in 1980, the Working Group has transmitted a total of 61,626 cases to 115 States. The number of cases under active consideration that have not yet been clarified, closed or discontinued stands at 48,619 in a total of 100 States. In its annual activities report, the Working Group voiced serious concerns at the escalating number of cases it is recording in the context of armed conflicts. “We found that there is a need for awareness raising, but also the capacity to answer both at the regional level and at the universal level,” the expert said. The Working Group continued to study new modalities of enforced disappearance in the context of elections. The report notes that, in the context of elections, enforced disappearance is difficult to pinpoint and address, as it is often only one out of many forms of violence. Moreover, the disappeared often reappear after brief periods and therefore cases go unreported. Lastly, as with the case of enforced disappearance more broadly, which is committed with the direct or indirect involvement of the State, it creates a significant barrier to reporting and documentation, notably due to fear of reprisals. Citroni emphasized that 2024 “across the world, is the year with the highest number of elections. One general point I would emphasize is that we have recommendations directed not only at states, but also at online platforms operators, because of the role they would play in this context.” She urged States to take immediate steps towards ensuring comprehensive implementation and enforcement of the absolute prohibition of enforced disappearance, in line with their obligations to prevent, investigate, prosecute and punish those responsible for such crimes, search for the disappeared, and provide adequate reparations for the harm suffered. The Special Rapporteurs, Independent Experts and Working Groups are part of what is known as the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. Special Procedures, the largest body of independent experts in the UN Human Rights system, is the general name of the Council’s independent fact-finding and monitoring mechanisms that address either specific country situations or thematic issues in all parts of the world. Special Procedures’ experts work on a voluntary basis; they are not UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work. They are independent from any government or organization and serve in their individual capacity.