The 30th of August is International Day of the Disappeared, and we would like to take the chance to make a special plea.
Blog by Mette Nielsen
Dead or alive? That’s a question that is normally quite easy to answer. Unless the person in question has disappeared. Leaving families worried – to say the least – about exactly that question.
The International Day of the Disappeared is a day to raise awareness about people who have gone missing. It originated in Central America, and the day is traditionally about drawing attention to the fate of individuals who have been imprisoned in places unknown to their relatives and/or legal representatives. Often under very poor conditions and involving torture.
These so- called enforced disappearances are severely violating the human rights of the individual.
A plea
At Scottish Refugee Council we would like to keep the attention on this year’s International Day of the Disappeared on the traditional. Almost.
Today we would like to direct your attention to the people who have experienced this type of imprisonment, but who have somehow managed to escape.
When they get out, they have nothing.
They can’t return to their homes.
They can’t contact their families.
They can only flee the country, but they have no documents to cross borders with.
We therefore urge the countries they pass through on their way to seek asylum to be helpful and open to this group of disappeared people. Help them get to safety. Help them re-emerge.
A second call
Furthermore we would like to point attention to the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance.
It was written in 2007 and signed by 92 of the United Nations – mainly back in 2007. Though signed, only 40 countries so far have ratified the convention so far.
We would also like to see the UK to sign the declaration and ratify it immediately to acknowledge the seriousness of this world wide problem.
A different take: Our colleagues at British Red Cross spend the Day of the Disappeared to raise awareness of people, who have lost touch with family members because of armed conflict, disaster or migration. The organisation has developed a family tracing service, which definitely deserves a bit of attention.
