1st World Congress on Enforced Disappearances.
The official opening ceremony was marked by a call for strengthened cooperation amongst all actors involved in the fight against enforced disappearances. Tribute was paid to the victims and to their families for their perseverance and resilience. A minute of silence was dedicated to the memory of all the disappeared.
The fundamental goal of the World Congress was to gather, for the first time ever, all actors committed to the fight against enforced disappearances at the global level: States – parties or not parties to the UN Convention, associations of families of the disappeared and survivors, international organizations, international NGOs, academics and others… Never before has there been such an opportunity for all those sharing the same concerns and objectives to exchange their experiences, coordinate their actions and develop common strategies. Thanks to the co-organizers of the Congress, and to the full commitment of all partners, the challenge was fully met. The results of the Congress went in fact beyond our initial expectations. The figures were amazing: 620 participants in presence and 1392 attendees online, from 118 countries, 301 civil society organizations, including 82 victim-led organizations, 76 State delegations attending… these figures and features are worth recalling, because when the CEDI, the Committee, the Working Group and the sponsoring states initiated this back in 2022, we would have never imagined such an attendance and such an impact. The panels provided a wealth of information, but also a unique opportunity to share experiences, while the parallel meetings and workshops enabled all the actors to develop common strategies for the first time in so many years. In a particularly troubled time, all participants were touched by the commitment of the speakers, and the strong emotions generated throughout those days. The plight of enforced disappearances was high on the agenda in the beginning of the 1990s especially during the negotiation of the Convention until its entry into force, from 2003 to 2010. But then the level of attention declined, as reflected in the lower rate of ratification of the Convention from 2017. This was in sharp contrast with the levelling up of the number of missing persons in the world, and among them of persons victims of enforced disappearances in very diverse contexts: “classical” enforced disappearances in the context of internal crisis, violent repression of opposition movements, the fight against terrorism or situations of non-international conflicts; but also new forms of enforced disappearances, with those occurring in the context of migration or connected to human trafficking, disappearances perpetrated by criminal organizations, sometimes with the complicity of official authorities, and also the so-called ‘short-term’ disappearances used more and more to repress peaceful assembly and freedom of expression and create a chilling effect among the civilian population. Both the Working Group and the Committee were able to perceive this new wave of enforced disappearances through the reports and cases they received in the framework of their procedures. Also, through the review of country situations and visits, both bodies were able to understand the extent to which associations of families of the disappeared and survivors felt left alone and in need of more support and solidarity. In 2023, the international community showed unprecedented attention and care for victims of enforced disappearances by creating a new type of organisation, namely the Independent Institution on Missing Person in the Syrian Arab Republic (IIMP), specifically designed to facilitate the search for, and clarification of, the fate and whereabouts of all missing persons in Syria, and to provide adequate support to victims, including survivors and the families of those missing. This is a major step for Syrian victims, but also for other victims all around the world as, beyond the Syrian situation, it could serve as a laboratory for new methodologies and approaches aiming at tackling the plight of enforced disappearances. But it certainly must not hide the dire reality that most of the families around the world, in many other countries, are still facing when trying to claim for truth, justice and reparation at the domestic level. The World Congress aimed at giving a voice to all victims. During the opening ceremony, it became hard not to recall Julio Cortazar’s word, at the outset of another conference, in Paris, 1981 when he spoke of ‘the invisible presence of thousands of disappeared (...) in this room where they are not, where they are evoked as a theme of work (...) we must feel them present and close, sitting among us, looking at us, talking to us. The mere fact that there are so many relatives and friends of the disappeared among the participants and the audience makes this innumerable multitude gathered in silent testimony, in implacable accusation, even more perceptible.’ Although the Congress fulfilled many expectations, it also gave rise to some disappointments, as it proved materially impossible to listen to all those present, to give them the space and time to speak and to do all that needed to be said and done. Hence, the call for a Second World Congress which clearly emerged very early on in the event. The 15 UN experts on enforced disappearances – the 5 members of the Working Group and the 10 members of the Committee – have been involved from the very beginning in the process that led to the World Congress. We have discussed the concept and the feasibility, praised the creation of CEDI, and have been immediately associated with the organization as members of the board. We also followed the regional consultations that allowed to frame a first draft of the plan of action and to imagine a sketch of the program of the event. We also joined together – with the kind assistance of the Geneva Human Rights Platform – to reflect upon and give our input on the draft action plan and the program during a private seminar held in September 2024. Finally, both bodies have participated to the Congress itself, which was a fantastic opportunity to make contacts but also to explain both the possibilities and the limitations of our procedures, and how we can practically contribute and assist States and families in their endeavour to eliminate the scourge of enforced disappearances. In this respect, we pledge to do our utmost to: - promote the adoptions of legal frameworks and public policies conducive to the prevention of enforced disappearances in all countries, - assist States and all other actors in dealing with enforced disappearances, based on the rights of victims and societies to truth, justice, reparation, guarantees of nonrepetition and memorialization, - respond effectively to urgent situations current practices of enforced disappearances, through urgent actions and humanitarian procedures, but also through calls on states to fight against impunity and punish all perpetrators At the end of the Congress, both the WGEID and CED were pleased that many of the key action points met their concerns and could ultimately increase their impact. Overall, more networks are needed – in Africa, but also among young defenders. And the universal ratification of the Convention needs to be achieved through a strong promotional campaign in the coming years. In an even more dangerous world, we must return to the basics and the foundations of the post-World War II order, remembering why ‘the peoples of the United Nations’ reaffirmed their ‘faith in fundamental human rights’. There is no place in this world, for our children and for future generation for enforced disappearances. In the end, we need to pledge to remain faithful to Cortazar’s oath:
The event highlighted the centrality of the voices of survivors and their families, including the crucial role of women in addressing enforced disappearances. This was reflected in the number of participants representing civil society organizations, including victim-led organizations. 125 speakers and moderators, 77 from civil society, including 29 family members and survivors. 78 were women (62%). Among representatives of victim-led organizations, there were twice as many women (107) as men (52), a reflection of the disproportionate impact of enforced disappearances on women and of their leading role in the struggle for truth and justice.
Participants came from all regions of the world. Europe was the most represented region, with 37% of participants, followed by the Americas (21%), AsiaPacific (13%), MENA (13%) and Africa (8%). Amongst the 125 speakers and moderators, 56 (45%) came from Europe, 26 (21%) from the Americas, 15 (12%) from Asia-Pacific, 14 (11%) from Africa, and 13 (10%) from MENA.
Recommendations for action were identified throughout the various sessions. The event concluded with a call to action and unveiling of key follow-up activities: • Support the creation of a victim-led regional network in Sub-Saharan Africa • Organization of regular meetings of women searchers • Reporting on the sessions of the United Nations Committee on Enforced Disappearances • Promotion of ratification of the International Convention • Strengthening the capacity of CSOs to engage with UN mechanisms • Support the creation of a global youth network against enforced disappearances These initiatives were suggested during pre-Congress regional consultations and represent a commitment to the fight against enforced disappearance.
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