Updated Enhancement Report on the UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances –
Updated Enhancement Report on the UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary
Disappearances –
Newsletter No. 11 & Bangkok Session Feedback
Date: February 25, 2025
Author: Dean Bordode, Human Rights’ Defender, Canada
1. Executive Summary
This report reviews the key updates from Newsletter No. 11 of the UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances and presents an enhanced set of recommendations for the Bangkok session (28 April–2 May 2025). It summarizes recent activities, including country visits, thematic studies, technical cooperation, and outcomes from the World Congress on Enforced Disappearances.
The second section of this report introduces practical and strategic recommendations aimed at improving stakeholder engagement, ensuring transparency, enhancing accessibility, strengthening digital security, supporting mental health, and fostering cross-regional collaboration.
These recommendations align with the UN’s mission to combat enforced disappearances and promote accountability globally.
2. Overview of Key Updates from Newsletter No. 11
A. 135th Session in Geneva (27–31 January 2025)
• Humanitarian Procedure: Reviewed 672 cases from 39 countries, including cases involving non-state actors.
• Internal Deliberations: Evaluated government responses to urgent appeals and general allegations.
• Country Visits & Planning:
o Confirmed visits to Bangladesh, Canada, Guatemala, and the Maldives.
o The Republic of Korea visit may be postponed due to UN liquidity issues.
• Regional Consultation: Conducted with African stakeholders regarding enforced disappearances linked to land, environmental defense, and natural resources.
• New Membership: Welcomed Mohammed Turki Al-Obaidi from the Asia-Pacific region, bringing expertise in international law and disappearances.
B. Country Visits & Reports
• Lithuania Visit (November 2024):
o Assessed detention facilities and historical disappearances.
o Preliminary findings published, with the final report to be presented to the Human Rights Council in September 2025.
• Cyprus Follow-Up (2022 Visit):
o Reviewing progress on previous recommendations, with input accepted until 14 March 2025.
C. Upcoming 136th Session in Bangkok (28 April–2 May 2025)
• Open to states, victims, CSOs, NGOs, and National Human Rights Institutions.
• Current meeting request system relies on email, but significant enhancements are recommended (see Section 3).
D. Technical Cooperation & Training
• Conducted a training session on transnational search mechanisms for disappeared persons with the Colombian Search Unit (January 2025).
E. World Congress on Enforced Disappearances (15–16 January 2025, Geneva)
• Attended by 620 in-person participants and 1,392 online from 118 countries.
• Focused on:
o Victim-led initiatives and women's role in seeking justice.
o Creation of regional victim networks, CSO engagement strategies, and a global youth movement.
• Multimedia content is available via CEDI’s YouTube channel.
F. Thematic Studies & Legal Contributions
• Environmental Defenders & Disappearances: Over 40 stakeholder consultations completed.
• Criminal Jurisdiction & Enforced Disappearances: Reviewing international legal frameworks.
• Next Thematic Report (November 2025): Will focus on memorialization processes & enforced disappearances.
• Legal Engagement: Submitted an amicus curiae brief to the European Court of Human Rights.
3. Recommendations for Enhancing the Bangkok Session
A. Improving Operational Processes & Transparency
1. Online Meeting Request System
• Develop an online portal for standardized meeting requests with clear criteria (e.g., case relevance, urgency, geographic diversity).
• Provide a submission template to guide stakeholders.
2. Transparent Selection & Follow-Up
• Introduce a public tracker for meeting requests (anonymized if necessary) to ensure fairness.
• Publish session outcomes and next steps, detailing how stakeholder input was incorporated.
3. Strengthening Stakeholder Capacity
• Pre-Session Webinars: Training on case documentation, advocacy strategies, and engaging with UN mechanisms.
• Mentorship Networks: Connect local NGOs with international CSOs for stronger collaboration.
B. Accessibility, Inclusivity & Safety Enhancements
4. Enhancing Accessibility & Inclusion
• Provide real-time translation for key sessions.
• Offer technical assistance for online participants (connectivity support, access checks).
• Schedule rotating time slots for hybrid meetings to accommodate different global regions.
5. Strengthening Safety & Confidentiality
• Enable anonymous participation for high-risk victims and activists.
• Use encrypted communication channels for sensitive discussions.
6. Cultural Sensitivity & Disability Access
• Offer cultural sensitivity training to ensure respectful engagement.
• Ensure physical & digital accessibility (e.g., wheelchair access, sign language interpretation).
C. Expanding Digital Engagement & Outreach
7. Live-Streaming & Social Media Advocacy
• Stream key sessions on YouTube/X (Twitter) to reach a broader audience.
• Use a dedicated hashtag campaign (e.g., #BangkokAgainstDisappearances).
8. Strengthening Digital Security
• Offer workshops on digital safety, particularly for human rights defenders from high-risk environments.
D. Support & Wellbeing Enhancements
9. Mental Health Support for Participants
• Provide on-site counseling and trauma-informed facilitation.
• Organize self-care and resilience workshops for victims and activists.
10. Strengthening Case Documentation & Evidence Collection
• Evidence Training: Teach participants how to document cases to UN standards.
• Digital Forensics Workshops: Guide stakeholders on securing and verifying evidence.
E. Cross-Regional Collaboration & Accountability
11. Regional Knowledge Exchange & Collaboration
• Success Stories Panel: Highlighting effective advocacy strategies.
• Comparative Legal Analysis: Reviewing how different countries handle disappearances legally.
12. Specialized Media Engagement
• Media Workshops: Training journalists on responsible reporting of enforced disappearances.
• Storytelling Training: Empowering victims' families to effectively communicate their experiences.
13. Emergency Response Protocol Development
• Rapid Response Network: Legal experts assisting with urgent cases.
• Secure Crisis Communication Channels for at-risk activists.
14. Youth Engagement & Future Leadership
• Dedicated Youth Panels to encourage long-term activism & advocacy.
15. Long-Term Accountability Measures
• Public Action Tracker monitoring Bangkok session recommendations.
• 6-Month Follow-Up Forum to assess implementation progress.
4. Conclusion
This updated enhancement report outlines actionable recommendations that will:
✅ Improve stakeholder engagement & meeting request processes.
✅ Increase session accessibility, transparency & inclusivity.
✅ Enhance safety, digital security & victim protections.
✅ Strengthen evidence collection & case documentation.
✅ Foster long-term collaboration & accountability.
By integrating these improvements, the Bangkok session can have a greater impact on preventing enforced disappearances worldwide.
Let’s work together to drive meaningful justice and change.
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