Veronika Wild

Remembering Argentina's Disappeared [Apologies, I don't know the source of this image] August is 30 th is the Day we remember the victims of enforced disappearance . Here we are mostly talking about government sponsored or condoned disappearances. There isn’t a region in the world which doesn’t have them and to their shame, 118 out of 193 UN member countries have not yet signed the Convention on the Prevention of Enforced Disappearances. In broad terms, this Convention adopted in 2010 covers the following points: Enforced Disappearance means the arrest, detention abduction or other forms of deprivation of liberty or concealing the fate or whereabouts of the disappeared person. No exceptional circumstances - not war, nor internal political instability, can be invoked to justify such actions. UN member states have a duty to prevent enforced disappearance, to investigate all allegations and to prosecute those responsible. Victims and their families have a right to justice, r...

- This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY 4. International While every disappearance is cause for anxiety and distress for those involved, there are some of particular interest to International authorities. They include mass disappearances - those who disappear because of conflict, natural and manmade disasters, in the course of migration, those related to organised crime and human trafficking or because of “enforced disappearances” such as those of the 43 students who disappeared in Mexico in 2014. These are primarily investigated by The International Commission on Missing Persons (ICMP) – an intergovernmental organisation which operates in 40 countries and works with governments, civil society, law enforcement and justice institutions to locate missing people and identify remains. Where there has been foul play, they also help  to bring perpetrators to justice and seek redress for the victims.  Using the world’s most advanced DNA laboratory it has ...