A/HRC/10/9 page 92 Annex 1 REVISED METHODS OF WORK OF THE WORKING GROUP ON ENFORCED OR INVOLUNTARY DISAPPEARANCES (Adopted on 4 December 2008) Mandate The Working Group’s methods of work are based on its mandate as stipulated originally in Commission on Human Rights resolution 20 (XXXVI) and as developed by the then Commission and the Human Rights Council in numerous further resolutions. The parameters of its work are laid down in the Charter of the United Nations, the International Bill of Human Rights, Economic and Social Council resolution 1235 (XLI) and the Declaration on the Protection of All Persons from Enforced or Involuntary Disappearance, adopted by the General Assembly in its resolution 47/133 of 18 December 1992 (hereinafter referred to as “the Declaration”). Definition of enforced disappearance As defined in the preambular part of the Declaration, enforced disappearances occur when persons are arrested, detained or abducted against their will or otherwise deprived of their liberty by officials of different branches or levels of Government or by organized groups or private individuals acting on behalf of, or with the support, direct or indirect, consent or acquiescence of the Government, followed by a refusal to disclose the fate or whereabouts of the persons concerned or a refusal to acknowledge the deprivation of their liberty, which places such persons outside the protection of the law. Basic mandate The basic mandate of the Working Group is humanitarian in nature, aimed at assisting families in determining the fate and whereabouts of their disappeared relatives who are placed outside the protection of the law. To this end, the Working Group endeavours to establish a channel of communication between the families and the Governments concerned, with a view to ensuring that sufficiently documented and clearly identified individual cases which families, directly or indirectly, have brought to the Group’s attention are investigated with a view to clarifying the fate or whereabouts of the disappeared persons. The Declaration In addition to its original mandate, the Working Group has been entrusted by the General Assembly, the then Commission on Human Rights and the Human Rights Council, with various tasks. In particular, the Working Group is to monitor States’ compliance with their obligations deriving from the Declaration on the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance and to provide to Governments assistance in its implementation. States are under an obligation to take effective measures to prevent and terminate acts of enforced disappearance by making them continuing offences under criminal law and establishing civil liability of those responsible. The Declaration also refers to the right to a prompt and effective judicial remedy, as well as unhampered access of national authorities to all places of detention, the right to habeas corpus,