The United Nations Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances (WGEID) concluded its 123rd session, which took place online between 15 and 19 February. During the session, the Working Group examined 31 reported cases of enforced disappearances it had transmitted under its urgent procedure since October 2020, concerning Cameroon, China, Egypt, India, Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Tanzania, Turkey, Uzbekistan and Venezuela. It also reviewed 581 cases, including newly reported cases outside the urgent procedure and updated information on previously transmitted cases concerning Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Burundi, Cameroon, China, the Democratic People"s Republic of Korea, Egypt, El Salvador, Honduras, India, Iran, Iraq, Lao People"s Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Libya, Maldives, Mexico, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, the Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Syria, Turkey, Ukraine, Venezuela, Vietnam and Yemen. In the spirit of its humanitarian mandate, the Working Group continued to document and discuss acts tantamount to enforced disappearances, perpetrated by non-state actors. The experts met with relatives of disappeared persons, non-governmental organizations and other stakeholders. They also held meetings with representatives of the Governments of Algeria and Japan. During the session, the Working Group reviewed responses from various Governments to prompt intervention letters, general allegations and urgent appeals. It examined new general allegations, discussed its future and potential country visits, and reviewed its upcoming thematic report on enforced disappearances occurring in the context of extraterritorial transfers. The Working Group will hold its next session in May 2021.
مشاركة :