The Convention
History and background of the ConventionRATIFICATIONS
On April 8, 2008 H.E. Dr. Nizar Albaharna, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of Bahrain presented the National Report. One of the issues discussed included the State’s intention to sign and ratify the Convention on Forced Disappearances. Read more…
On March 27, 2008 in a resolution (A/HRC/7/L.31/Rev.1) on the Convention, the Council encouraged States that had not done so to consider signing, ratifying or acceding to the Convention and invited States to consider joining the campaign to share information on best practices in that area. Read more...
On March 26, 2008 Amnesty International reacted on Mexico's ratification in a statement: A positive, but insufficient step. Mexico ratifies the Convention against Enforced Disappearances. Amnesty's reaction in Spanish.
On March 25, 2008 in a resolution (A/HRC/7/L.30) on enforced or involuntary disappearances, the Council decided to extend the mandate of the Working Group on enforced or involuntary disappearances for a further period of three years, and encouraged it, inter alia, to promote communication between families of disappeared persons and the Governments concerned. Read more...
Remarks of 6 States made during the High Level Segment of the Human Rights Council March 3-5, 2008.
On January 18, 2008 the Committee of Ministers (CoM) of the Council of Europe states that the entry into force of the convention would significantly contribute to combating the practice of enforced disappearances. Read article 8 of CoM reply
IMPLEMENTATION AND DISAPPEARANCE BILLS
Argentina - In November 2007 Argentina included enforced disappearance in the penal code as a seperate crime. Untill now the enforced disappearance was tried under ´illegal deprivation of liberty´. Read newspaper article (in spanish and english). The text of the law criminalising enforced disappearance and other crimes against humanity in Argentina (in Spanish).
Colombia - Colombia adopted bill 589 typifying enforced disappearnce in 2000 (in Spanish)
Guatemala - Draft bill number 3590 founding 'National Search Commission for Victims of Enforced Disappearances. (in Spanish)
Mexico - Mexico adopted bill 569 to sanction and prevent disappearances in 2005.
Nepal - The Nepalese government has finally relented to immense pressure from national and international rights bodies and decided to introduce a new Act to deal with issues of disappearance. The law should be enacted in compliance with the convention. Read article On November 27 Home Minister Krishna Prasad Sitaula added that the government would produce a special and separate Bill on disappearance in the parliament within 10 days. Read article
Nepal - The International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) on May 30 2007 submitted a letter to the Speaker of the interim Legislature-Parliament of Nepal setting out 23 recommendations related to the draft Bill tabled in the interim Legislature-Parliament.
Read letter in English
Philippines - House Bill 4959 is the anti disappearance bill in the Philippines which is still pending. Family members have been working hard for many years to get the Bill passed.
USA North Carolina - The General Assembly of the State North Carolina on April 2007 adopted a Bill (number 1682) to punish enforced disappearance. The Bill uses the definition of the Rome Statute.
2005 draft paper on domestic law. A comprehensive overview of a part of existing domestic law on disappearances until 2005.