COMMITTEE ON ENFORCED DISAPPEARANCES OPENS NINTH SESSION

The Committee on Enforced Disappearances this morning opened its ninth session, hearing a statement by Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.

In his statement, High Commissioner Zeid said that the issue of enforced disappearances was essential for human rights. People disappeared in many countries in different regions, with or without involvement of the State. New patterns of enforced disappearances were emerging, with new categories of victims and perpetrators. Today, massive numbers of disappearances were taking place in States like Syria and Iraq. Article 1 of the Convention was clear that nobody should be subject to enforced disappearances or held in secret detention. In some cases, non-State actors were involved in disappearances, seizing political opponents and keeping hostages.

Migrants were too often met with exploitation, discrimination and violence, as well as harshly enforced refusals to permit entry. They endured unbelievable suffering and were at high risk of severe human rights violations by the authorities of the countries they tried to enter. Those included enforced disappearances, arbitrary arrests, torture and sexual violence. In many cases, they fell into the hands of trafficking networks, with high risk of violence, kidnapping and extortion.

The Committee was exhorted to make active use of Article 16 of the Convention, which forbade to States parties the expulsion, refoulement, surrender or extradition of persons, including migrants, who could be in danger of enforced disappearances. As the newest treaty body, the Committee had shown a remarkable ability to innovate, making the best use of such tools as the Convention’s urgent actions procedure under Article 30. Victims increasingly counted on the support of the Committee in their search for their loved ones, for fair prosecution and punishment of perpetrators, and to pierce the veil of impunity and obtain reparation. The Committee’s mandate could literally be life-saving and was extremely sensitive. It was paramount that the members of the Committee met the highest standards of ethics, competence, independence and impartiality.

New members of the Committee - Maria Clara Galvis Patino and Daniel Figallo Rivadeneyra - took the solemn oath of office.

Emmanuel Décaux was re-elected as the Chairperson of the Committee by acclamation.

Mr. Décaux said that the collegial spirit of the Committee ought to continue during the transitional period.

Santiago Corcuera Cabezut, Kimio Yakushiji and Suela Janina were elected as the Vice-Chairpersons of the Committee, and Juan José López Ortega was elected as Rapporteur.


The Committee then adopted its agenda and held a minute of silence in remembrance of the victims of enforced disappearances.

The ninth session of the Committee will run until 18 September in Room XII of the Palais des Nations in Geneva. During the session, the Committee will discuss the reports of Iraq and Montenegro.

At 3 p.m. this afternoon, the Committee will start its consideration of the initial report of Iraq CED/C/IRQ/1.


For use of the information media; not an official record

CED15/009E