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Enforced disappearance: UN expert group to review over 2000 cases from 36 countries

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26 January 2024

GENEVA (26 January 2024) – The UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances will hold its 132nd session in Geneva from 29 January to 2 February 2024 to examine 2,190 cases from 36 countries. It will also review cases tantamount to enforced disappearances perpetrated by four non-state actors.

The five independent experts will hold meetings with relatives of forcibly disappeared persons, State representatives, civil society groups and other stakeholders to exchange information on individual cases and on structural issues and challenges related to enforced disappearances.

They will examine allegations received regarding obstacles encountered in the implementation of the Declaration on the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance, such as regressive legislation and practices, or failures in addressing cases of enforced disappearance, notably in the context of migrants, refugees and asylum-seekers.

The Working Group will discuss country visits and thematic reports to be presented to the Human Rights Council in September 2024, including follow-up reports on visits to Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan in 2019, the visit to the judicial and human rights organs of the African Union and other regional bodies from 21 to 26 October 2023, and the report on enforced disappearances in the context of elections, which is currently open for contributions.

The Working Group will also discuss internal matters, future thematic activities and technical cooperation projects, including a thematic study on ‘Enforced Disappearances in the context of the defence of land, territory and natural resources’, a joint statement with the Committee on Enforced Disappearances on so-called ‘short-term enforced disappearances’, an ongoing project on new technologies and research to be undertaken on the use of universal criminal jurisdiction in cases of enforced disappearance.

The decisions made by the Working Group during the 132ndsession will be reflected in its next post-sessional report.

The sessions of the Working Group are held in private.

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