ENFORCED DISAPPEARANCES: Working Group to study the relationship between children and enforced disappearances

[6 March 2012] - The Working Group (WG) on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances presented its annual report today at the Human Rights Council.

CRIN has extracted mentions of children and children's rights in the report, which can be read here

At the Council's interactive dialogue, NGOs and State delegations took their turn to comment on the report by the WG and the recommendations it made. 

The debate mainly focused on the enforced or involuntary disappearance of adults, but there was some mention of the disappearance of children and the effects on children of the disappearance of a parent. Egypt was one of only a few State delegations to highlight that children are indeed victims of disappearance. 

The Chair-Rapporteur of the WG on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances, Mr Jeremy Sarkin, said at the end of the interactive debate that more analysis is underway on the relationship between children and enforced disappearances. The significance of gender will also be looked at. 

On another note, France raised the issue of inadequate resources to fund the Working Group, and its capacity to deal with a heavy workload. In response, Mr Sarkin said that the WG’s situation was dire, and that two permanent members have already left. 

Issues: 
Violence: 

Please note that these reports are hosted by CRIN as a resource for Child Rights campaigners, researchers and other interested parties. Unless otherwise stated, they are not the work of CRIN and their inclusion in our database does not necessarily signify endorsement or agreement with their content by CRIN.