GERMAN PARLIAMENT RATIFIES CONVENTION

On May 14 the German Bundestag ratified the Convention making it the second EU country after France to do so. There is no mention of recognition of the competence of the Committee to receive individual or state complaints. You can read the draft law (in pdf) on the site of the Bundestag

5366 SIGNATURES PRESENTED TO PRIME MINSTER NEPAL

The ICAED actions on Nepal resulted in 5366 signatures being presented by Amnesty International Nepal to the Prime Minister on July 1st. Prime Minister Nepal expressed commitment to take necessary action to end the existing culture of impunity. Read the article on Kantipur online.

NEPAL: ON JULY 1 THOUSANDS OF APPEAL LETTERS ARE PRESENTED TO THE PRIME MINSTER

The ICAED actions on Nepal have resulted in thousands of appeal letters from within Nepal and abroad calling on Nepal to ratify the Convention. On July 1 2009 these letters are presented to the Prime Minister of Nepal. The ICAED asks that the government send an unmistakable signal that enforced disappearances will never be tolerated again in Nepal.

Read the press release (pdf)

Read the ICAED letter

CANADA CURRENTLY DOES NOT CONSIDER RATIFYING CONVENTION

On June 8, 2009 in its views on the conclusions of the report of the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review of Canada the Candian government stated that at present it is not considering becoming a party the the CED (Convention on Enforced Disappearances). Paragraph 9 of the Human Rights Council document

TURKISH NGOS STARTED RATIFICATION CAMPAIGN

On the occasion of the Week of Disappeared People in 2009, the Human Rights Association (İHD), the International Committee Against Disappearances (ICAD) and the Solidarity Association for Bereaved Families (Yakay-Der) started a campaign to urge Turkey to ratify the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearances. Read the news article

COLOMBIA: THOUSANDS MARCH THOUGH BOGOTA FOR CONVENTION

Thousands of people gathered on May 30 2009 in the Colombian cities of Bogota and Medellin to call on President Uribe for the ratification of the Convention. Among the organisation of families of the disappeared ASFADDES. Link to newsarticle on external website (in Spanish).

SPAIN: SENATE RATIFIED ON APRIL 15

On April 15, 2009 the Spanish Senate authorized ratification of the Convention, following a similar decision of the Spanish Congres in February 2009. Read the decision of the Senate and of the Congres (in PDF)

CYPRUS: PROGRESS IN RATIFICATION PROCESS

The Ministry of Justice of Cyprus replied to the letter of the ICAED member in Cyprus, Truth Now. The Ministry stated it has prepared a draft law which has been sent to the Law Office of the Republic. Ratification can be expected somehwere this year. Read the letter (in Greek only)

RESOLUTION OF EP ON HUMAN RIGHTS INCLUDING CONVENTION

The European Parliament resolution of 7 May 2009, on the Annual Report on Human Rights in the World 2008 and the European Union's policy on the matter, a paragraph on the Convention.

 56.  Remains concerned about the true commitment to human rights of European Union Member States that refuse to sign the above-mentioned International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance; welcomes the ratification of that convention by Argentina in May 2008, and asks all EU Member States that have not done so to sign and ratify it promptly

Link to the website of the EP for the full document

MADRES DE PLAZA DE MAYO VIST INDONESIA AND CALL FOR RATIFICATION

During a recent visit of the Madres de Plaze de Mayo from Argentina to Indonesia they called on the Indonesian government to ratify the Convention. An extensive article in the Jarkarta Post describes their visit and the position of Indonesia regaring the Convention.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION 63/186 ON CONVENTION

As part of the 63rd session the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution on the Convention on March 17, 2009. The text of the resolution was adopted earlier by the Third Committee on October 30, 2008. Read the resolution (in pdf)

ICAED STARTS LETTER WRITING CAMPAIGN ON NEPAL

On April 6th the ICAED started a three week letter writing campaign towards the government of Nepal. ICAED asks organisations and individuals to send letters to the Prime Minister of Nepal calling for signing and ratification of the Convention. Visit the special campaign page

ICAED APPEALS TO COUNTRIES TO RECOGNISE COMPETENCE

On March 29th ICAED sent letters to several countries that ratified the Convention but so far did not recognise the competence of the Committee to receive individual complaints and interstate complaints. Letters were sent to the Minsters of Foreign Affairs of Senegal, Cuba, Honduras, Kazakhstan and Mexico. The letters can be found on the campaign page.

UK: UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE ANWSERS QUESTION ON PROGRESS

On March 23rd the UK Government answered questions in parliament on the status of the ratification. The Government is currently examining the impact on UK law, for instance the introduction of one or more criminal offences. Read the answers (pdf)

LETTER OF ICAED MEMBER TO CYPRUS MINISTER OF JUSTICE

On March 17, 2009, the ICAED member from Cyprus 'Truh Now' sent a letter to the Minister of Justice to appeal for the ratification of the Convention.

Read the letter (in pdf)

SUCCESFUL LOBBY ACTIVITIES IN MOROCCO

From March 15-18 several ICAED members and other concerend organisations in Morocco organised succesful campaign actitivities in Rabat. Government officials reiterated during meetings that Morocco will ratify before the end of 2009. Current changes in the Penal Code would also include the incrimination of the crime of enforced disappearances.

Read the press release

Link to item in Moroccan press

URUGUAY RECOGNISES COMPETENCE OF COMMITTEE

Immediately after deposit of the ratification of the Convention Uruguay also recognised the competence of the Committee to receive inidividual and State complaints (art. 31 and 32). Only 4 out of 10 countries that ratified have so far recognised the competence of the Committee (France, Albania, Argentina and Uruguay).

INTERVENTION ON CONVENTION DURING 10TH HRC SESSION

On March 4, Mr Mugiyanto, the chairperson of the ICAED member Asian Federation against Disappearances (AFAD), gave a statement on the Convention in his personal capacity during the 10th Human Rights Council session. Read the statement

URUGUAY RATIFIES CONVENTION

On March 4 Uruguay deposited the ratification  of the Convention with the UN. Uruguay is the 10th country to ratify to Convention, leaving 10 ratifications till the entry into force.

KAZAKHSTAN DEPOSITS RATIFICATION AT UN

On February 27 Kazakhstan deposited the ratification of the Convention at the UN. Kazakhstan is the 9th country to rafity, leaving 11 raitifications till the entry into force.

ANNOUNCING SIDE EVENT ON CONVENTION ON MARCH 11

On March 11 the ICAED members AFAD and FEDEFAM organise a side event to the 10th session of the Human Rights Council, on the urgency of ratification of the Convention in cooperation with Non-Violence International, Forum Asia and the ICAED. Click here to see the invitation (in pdf)

REMARKS ON DISAPPEARANCES DURING 3RD AND 4TH UPR SESSION

During the 3rd and 4th session of the Universal Periodic Review of the Human Rights Council various remarks were made by NGOs and States on enforced disappearances and the Convention. The Nigerian outcome of the reveiw mentions for instance that on January 19 the President signed the instruments of accession to the Convention.

3rd session View the remarks (in pdf)

4th session View the remarks (in pdf)

COUNCIL OF EUROPE MOTION FOR RECOMMANDATION ON CONVENTION

On February 4 2009 a motion for a recommendation on the Convention was presented to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe by the member Mr. Gardetto and others. The motion was prepared and proposed by the ICAED member Aim for human rights. Link to the motion on the website of the CoE.

2ND ANNIVERSARY OF SIGNING CEREMONY OF CONVENTION

On February 6 2007 57 States signed the Convention during a signing ceremony in Paris. Two years later 8 States have ratified the Convention and 81 have signed the document. Amnesty International France stated there is no solution to enforced disappearances without the ratification of the Convention. Link to article on website Amnesty International France (In french)

STUDY DAY ON THE CONVENTION ON FEBRUARY 5 IN PARIS

On February 5 2009 Colegio d’España, la Maison d’ Argentine et la Maison d’ Italie of the Cité Universitaire in Paris organise a study day on the Convention in Paris. Link to the invitation

CUBA RATIFIES THE CONVENTION

On February 2nd Cuba became the 8th country to deposit the ratification of the Convention with the United Nations.

MANIFESTATION FOR THE CONVENTION IN GUATEMALA

On January 14 family members of the disappeared organised a manifestation in Guatemala city to appeal for the ratification of the Convention in 2009. See picture on this page.

STEERING COMMITTEE ICAED HOLDS ANNUAL MEETING

On December 8-9, 2008 the Steering Committe of the ICAED held its annual meeting in Geneva. One of the major agreements was to set as a goal for 2009 to reach 20 ratifications of the Convention.  

BOLIVIA DEPOSITS RATIFICATION

Bolivia became the 7th country to ratify the Convention. Bolivia deposited the ratification on December 17. This leaves 13 more ratifications till the entry into force.

SENEGAL DEPOSITS RATIFICATION

Senegal became the 6th country to deposit the ratification of the Convention with the United Nations. It became the 6th country to ratify. This leaves 14 more ratifications till entry into force.

READ MORE IN THE NEWS ARCHIVE:

2008

2007