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GENEVA, Feb 26 (KUNA) -- "Enforced disappearances remain amongst the worst
human rights violations ever practised," said Jeremy Sarkin, chair of the UN
Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances on the 30th
anniversary of the expert body's creation "It turns humans into non-humans."
"While many people think this is a practice of the past, it has become a
global problem affecting all continents of the world," warned Mr. Sarkin.
"Once largely the product of military dictatorships, enforced disappearances
are nowadays perpetrated in complex situations of internal conflict,
especially as a means of political repression of opponents."
The human rights expert expressed particular concern about the continuing
widespread impunity for enforced disappearance. He also drew attention to the
ongoing harassment of human rights defenders, relatives of victims, witnesses
and lawyers dealing with cases of enforced disappearance.
Mr. Sarkin indicated Friday in Geneva that since its creation of the UN
Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances it has dealt with more
than 50,000 cases in more than 80 countries.
However, enforced disappearances are still severely underreported because
of a lack of knowledge of the international human rights system, lack of
access to the system and obstacles and hindrances placed in the way of the
families of victims to obtain redress for this horrible offence.
On this 30th Anniversary of the Working Group creation, its members extend
its appreciation to those States that cooperate with it to resolve cases of
enforced disappearance.
It urges States "to undertake all possible efforts to prevent and eradicate
this heinous practice and to bring to justice all those believed to be
responsible for the crime of enforced disappearances." The group of human
rights experts also calls on States "to refrain from any act of intimidation
or reprisals against those persons who contribute to the eradication of
enforced disappearances, and to fight against impunity."
"The United Nations could also play its part," Mr. Sarkin said, "by
adopting 30 August as the International Day of the Disappeared, to ensure that
there is more attention to the practice and the means available to prevent and
eradicate it."
The Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances is comprised of
five independent experts from all regions of the world. The
Chairperson-Rapporteur is Mr. Jeremy Sarkin (South Africa), and the other
Expert-Members are Mr. Santiago Corcuera (Mexico), Mr. Darko G ttlicher
(Croatia), Mr. Olivier de Frouville (France) and Mr. Osman El-Hajj{ (Lebanon).
(end)
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