The Campaign
ICAED CAMPAIGN MATERIAL
ICAED STATEMENTS
In this section, you will find press releases and statements issued by the International Coalition against Enforced Disappearances
CAMPAIGN MATERIAL OTHER ORGANISATIONS
26-27 February, 2008, Pretoria, South Africa, LHR Conference Proceeding Report on the Conference on the United Nations Convention for the Protection of all Persons from Enforced disappearances.
Amnesty International fact sheet, A crucial opportunity to end enforced disappearance (pdf)
Fiacat fact sheet, The International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance in 5 Questions, in English and in French
Primer on the Convention prepared by the Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances. Click here for a link
OTHER CAMPAIGN ACTIVITIES
Guatemala - On April 22-23 a regional seminar to promote and discuss the convention is organized in Guatemala by 'la Liga de Hygiene Mental' and Aim for human rights. Distinguished lawyers and other human rights defenders from Guatemala and abroad explain the convention in detail. Please read the invitation (in spanish) for more information
Amnesty Statement - March 26, Mexico: A positive, but insufficient step. Mexico ratifies the Convention against Enforced Disappearances.
Amnesty reaction in Spanish
Nepal - COCAP is going to launch a campaign “COCAP Campaign for the Disappeared – Trans-Nepal Cycle Ride 2008” from 15th of Janurary, 2008. A team of 15 COCAP volunteers will travel from the Mechi to the Mahakali actively engaging with the families affected by disappearances and promote the covention. For details about COCAP please refer to www.cocap.org.np
South Africa - On February 26-27 2008 a conference on the Convention is organized in South Africa. The conference discusses the background and content of the convention within the regional context. The second day is dedicated to the regional challenges and the national dillemmas in South Africa. The conference is organized by Lawyers for Human Rights and is visited by families of disappeared, lawyers, government officials and human rights activists.
ACTIVITIES OF ICAED
SIDE EVENT OF ICAED AND GROUP DES AMIS DURING HRC SESSION
The ICAED, in consultation with the States in the Group des Amis, organized a round table on March 11 in Geneva to assess the state of ratification and identify challenges for the implementation of the International Convention for the Protection of all Persons from Enforced Disappearances. With a tribute to Bernard Kessedjian, Ambassador.
The programme of the event in English, Spanish and French
The report of the event in English
ICAED PUBLISHES MANIFEST
On February 6 2008 ICAED publishes its Manifest urging States to demonstrate their commitment to the eradication of enforced disappearances by signing and ratifying the Convention.
ICAED CALLS ON EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT TO PROMOTE THE CONVENTION
ICAED on January 24 2008 called on the European Parliament (EP) to actively promote the Convention. ICAED proposed a motion for a resolution of the EP, stressing the importance of swift ratification and full implementation by the EU member States.
LETTER TO ALL MINISTERS OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
All Ministers of Foreign Affairs reveived a letter of ICAED at the end of October 2007. The letter thanked those governments that already signed and urged all governments to move forward with the proceedings leading to ratification.
LAUNCH EVENT OF CAMPAIGN FOR THE CONVENTION
On September 26 2007 the International campaign of the ICAED was launched in Geneva during the Human Rights Council Session. The Human Rights Council president was one of the speakers together with ambassadors from all continents.
Download a report of the event here.
You can also download the full text of the Declaration of ICAED for this occasion in English, French or Spanish.
JOIN OUR CAMPAIGN
- Campaigning for the convention
THE CAMPAIGN
The international campaign for the UN Convention to protect all persons from enforced disappearances is the primary activity of ICAED.
We welcome all organisations of family members of disappeared and independent NGO's concerned with human rights and the struggle against disappearances to join ICAED and the campaign. Through cooperation we will make the Convention a reality and work together towards eradication of enforced disappearances.
The international campaign will first look for early ratification by at least 20 States which will lead to the entry into force of the Convention and the Committee.
SHORT TERM OBJECTIVES OF THE CAMPAIGN ARE:
- Signing of the Convention by as many States without delay;
- Ratification of the Convention by 20 States at the earliest possible date to ensure entry into force of the Convention;
- Declarations by States recognising the competence of the Committee on Enforced Disappearances;
- No reservations that are contrary to the object and purpose of the Convention
- High-quality members of the Committee on Enforced Disappearance.
WHAT YOUR ORGANISATION CAN DO
INVOLVEMENT IS POSSIBLE IN MANY WAYS:
- Subscribe to the charter and become a member of the Coalition. Read more in English or in Spanish...
- Link your website to the Coalition’s website
- Learn from the other coalition members how they campaign
- Share information and experiences with the other coalition members
- Cooperate in joint activities at the national, regional and international level
- Urge your national and regional governments to ratify and implement the Convention
- Inform your membership about the Coalition and encourage others to take action
- Contact the Coalition to do translations of key information materials into the languages in your region
- Write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper in support of the Coalition
USE THE CONVENTION IN CASE OF DISAPPEARANCES
The full strength and effect of the Convention will become clear after widespread ratification, the entry into force and the functioning of the Committee on Enforced Disappearances.
But even before the entry into force the Convention can already be used in cases of enforced disappearances, in particular towards States that have already signed and ratified the Convention. Even though the Convention has no legally binding status yet and there is no monitoring body, many States have agreed to abide by the provisions by joining the consensus at the Human Rights Council, co-sponsoring at the General Assembly (103 States) or even stronger, signing and ratifying the Convention. Read more