Convention against enforced disappearance

In 2006 the UN in 2006 adopted the International Convention on the Protection of all persons from Enforced Disappearance. It is intended to be the first universal legally-binding instrument protecting against the “atrocious and ongoing practice” of enforced disappearance.

The Convention creates new obligations on states to prevent, investigate and prosecute enforced disappearances and to protect and compensate victims. It establishes a new Committee to monitor implementation and to respond to urgent requests to find disappeared people. The Convention came into force on 23 December 2010.

So far only 30 states have ratified the Convention, and not all of those states recognise all the competencies of the Committee. The UK has not signed or ratified the Convention, despite being closely involved in drafting it, but is apparently looking into what would need to be done to implement the Convention’s requirements. There are various campaigns seeking to encourage the UK to ratify the Convention.