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WORLD CONGRESS
ON ENFORCED DISAPPEARANCES
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
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Raise awareness on what enforced disappearance is, its extent and impact worldwide
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Put families and civil society back at the centre of joint efforts
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Develop an action plan for the protection of all persons from enforced disappearance and encourage related pledges from relevant actors
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Promote intergovernmental dialogue within a community of practice
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Initiate a process of direct cooperation between all actors to implement joint strategies.
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EXPECTED OUTCOMES
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International community further mobilized to protect all persons from enforced disappearance
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Actors engaged in the global fight against enforced disappearance submit pledges related to the proposed Action Plan
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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:
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Technical assistance on ratification and implementation of the Convention
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Strengthened capacity-building to ensure participation of families and victims’ associations in relevant international and national processes
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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.
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 st