UN experts review 13 cases
The independent human rights experts of the United Nations have examined 13 reported cases of enforced disappearance under its urgent action procedure, as well as information on more than 200 cases in 33 countries, including in Bangladesh.
The United Nations Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances during its 97th session, that took place in Geneva from July 9 to 13, also reviewed the newly-submitted cases and the previously accepted ones, said a UN News Agency report yesterday.
Five experts of the group studied cases, including those demanding urgent action, concerning Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Argentina, Bangladesh, Belarus, Bhutan, Central African Republic, Colombia, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Egypt, Georgia, Kenya, Kuwait, Laos, Libya, Mexico, Morocco, Myanmar, Pakistan, Peru, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, Thailand, Turkey, Uzbekistan and Yemen.
The meeting also discussed responses from various governments to prompt intervention letters, urgent appeals and general allegations. The panel also met with non-governmental organisations and family members of disappeared individuals.
The experts held meetings with representatives of the governments of Algeria, Japan and the Republic of Korea to exchange views on individual cases and on the issue of enforced disappearance in general.
The five independent experts are Chair-Rapporteur Olivier de Frouville (France), and members Ariel Dulitzky (Argentina), Jasminka Dzumhur (Bosnia and Herzegovina), Osman El-Hajjé (Lebanon), and Jeremy Sarkin (South Africa).
The Working Group was established by the UN Commission on Human Rights in 1980 to assist families in determining the fate and whereabouts of their disappeared relatives.
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