WORLD CONGRESS
ON ENFORCED DISAPPEARANCES

GENEVA I 15-16 JANUARY 2025

WORLD CONGRESS ON
ENFORCED DISAPPEARANCES

GENEVA I 15-16 JANUARY 2025

ORGANIZATION

The World Congress is co-organized by CEDI, the United Nations Committee on Enforced Disappearances (CED), the United Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances (WGEID), and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).

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OBJECTIVES

Raise awareness on what enforced disappearance is, its extent and impact worldwide
Put families and civil society back at the centre of joint efforts
Develop an action plan for the protection of all persons from enforced disappearance and encourage related pledges from relevant actors
Promote intergovernmental dialogue within a community of practice
Initiate a process of direct cooperation between all actors to implement joint strategies.

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EXPECTED OUTCOMES

International community further mobilized to protect all persons from enforced disappearance
Actors engaged in the global fight against enforced disappearance submit pledges related to the proposed Action Plan

All concerned actors are better connected to foster synergies against enforced disappearance

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LASTING POSITIVE
IMPACT

The WCED is part of a multi-actor process that aims to achieve lasting results for the protection of all persons against enforced disappearance.

Follow-up activities may include:

Technical assistance on ratification and implementation of the Convention
Strengthened capacity-building to ensure participation of families and victims’ associations in relevant international and national processes

Organization of events to address issues of common interest related to enforced disappearances.

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CONSULTATION PROCESS

Relevant actors were able to contribute directly to the World Congress through a broad consultation process.

The WCED provisional programme and proposed Action Plan are based on consultations held with relevant actors in all regions between May and September 2024.

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NEWS

TIME FOR COLLECTIVE ACTION

Where are they? This is the unbearable question that the relatives of the disappeared are left to wrestle with. Tragically, enforced disappearance remains widespread across the world, with devastating repercussions on entire societies. Following decades of mobilization to prevent and eliminate this heinous human right violation, the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance (the Convention) was adopted in 2006 thanks to the tireless efforts of States, associations of victims, human rights non-governmental organizations and experts.

Over the past 15 years, the number of States parties to the Convention has increased from 20 to 76. However, universal ratification and implementation is far from achieved and enforced disappearance is far from being eradicated.

It is time to join forces and intensify efforts in the global fight against enforced disappearance.

Nearly 20 years after the adoption of the Convention, the first World Congress on Enforced Disappearances aims to create an opportunity for concrete and ambitious commitments to eradicate enforced disappearance everywhere in the world, putting the voices of the victims at the core of the strategy.

GENERAL INFORMATION

DATES & VENUE

The WCED will take place in Geneva at the International Conference Center Geneva from 15 to 16 January 2025.

PROGRAMME

The provisional programme is based on the outcome of the regional consultations and is available on the dedicated webpage.

REGISTRATION

Please fill out our registration form to join us on-site or online.

PROPOSED ACTION PLAN & RELATED
PLEDGES

The proposed WCED Action Plan and related model pledges is available on the dedicated webpage.

MULTI-ACTOR PARTICIPATION

OUR AIMS

The World Congress aims to bring together all the relevant actors involved in the fight against enforced disappearances, including:

States (parties and non-parties to the Convention)
Relevant international and regional bodies and mechanisms (including CED and WGEID)
ICAED and families’ organizations from all regions
International human rights NGOs working on the issue
International organizations (ICRC, ICMP, IOM)
National Human Rights Institutions
Other key actors and experts.

WHAT TO EXPECT

PLEDGES

All actors – including States, CSOs, international and regional organizations and mechanisms, national human rights institutions, and experts – are encouraged to register voluntary commitments related to the proposed Action Plan on the occasion of the WCED.

More info

ARGUMENTS

Find out more about the arguments on why all States should become parties to the Convention.

More info

The Convention against Enforced Disappearances Initiative (CEDI) is a multi-actor organization created to foster synergies to promote the the Convention and its objectives.

Learn more