International Day Of The Victims Of Enforced Disappearances (30 August 2020)

On 30 August, the international community celebrates the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances.

On this day, Argentina and France recall their firm commitment to combating impunity as regards forced disappearances, and their thoughts go out to victims and their families. These serious human rights violations are unacceptable and must be condemned by the international community.

The 2006 International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance is considered a fundamental human rights treaty, providing important preventive measures and enabling greater cooperation and mutual legal assistance in criminal matters. It currently has 98 signatories, of which 63 have ratified the text.

In 2020, there will be two significant anniversaries: the 40th of the creation of the UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances (WGEID), celebrated in March in Buenos Aires, with France’s participation, and the 10th anniversary of the UN Committee on Enforced Disappearances (CED), conceived as the Convention’s monitoring body.

On this commemorative day, Argentina and France reaffirm their commitment to combating enforced disappearances. The two States work together to promote universal ratification of the Convention and will therefore launch a new campaign of joint demarches, following those in 2013 and 2018.