A/HRC/45/13
on the mandate of the Working Group, its history, and ways to engage with its humanitarian
procedure.
12.
On 3 March 2020, the Chair-Rapporteur participated in an event organized by the
Government of Argentina, in Buenos Aires, to mark the fortieth anniversary of the
establishment of the Working Group on 29 February 1980. The event was held at the
Escuela Superior de Mecánica de la Armada (ESMA) former clandestine detention centre.
It was opened by the Secretary for Human Rights, with Estela de Carlotto and Rosa Bru
representing the families of the disappeared. The Chair-Rapporteur reviewed part of the
Working Group’s history and reflected on why the mandate is as needed today as in 1980.
He also presented new audiovisual materials.
13.
The Government of Turkmenistan requested the assistance of the Working Group in
implementing the Declaration on the Protection of All Persons from Enforced
Disappearance, and consequently has invited the Working Group to undertake a technical
visit aimed at increasing the capacities of the authorities to tackle enforced disappearances
in the penitentiary system. Initially planned for April 2020, the activity was postponed due
to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The Working Group continues to engage with the
Government of Turkmenistan on conducting the visit as soon as the travel restrictions have
been lifted.
14.
On 28 May 2020, the Chair-Rapporteur facilitated a workshop on enforced
disappearances, with government officials from 11 ministries and institutions in the
Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. The activity was organized in the framework of the
Letter of Understanding between the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for
Human Rights (OHCHR) and the Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.
15.
On 8 and 10 June 2020, Houria Es-Slami delivered two online workshops to
representatives of civil society and family associations working on the issue of enforced
disappearances in the Syrian Arab Republic. The OHCHR-facilitated workshops enabled
Syrian activists and family members to deepen their engagement with the Working Group,
most notably in the implementation of the Working Group’s humanitarian mandate of
assisting in clarifying the fate and the whereabouts of the forcibly disappeared.
16.
The Working Group continues its practice of holding one of its sessions each year
outside Geneva. The Working Group had programmed its 121st session to take place in San
José, Costa Rica, in May 2020. However, the session had to be postponed due to the
COVID-19 pandemic. The Working Group is grateful to the Government of Costa Rica for
accepting to host a session of the Working Group, and looks forward to rescheduling a
session in San José once travel restrictions have been lifted.
17.
During the reporting period, all the members of the Working Group carried out a
number of activities connected to enforced disappearances, which included participating in
conferences, consultations, seminars, training events, workshops and lectures, organized by
Governments and civil society organizations.
18.
During its sessions, the Working Group continued to discuss its thematic report on
standards and public policies for effective investigation of enforced disappearances. In
2018, the Working Group presented to the Human Rights Council an interim report, and
invited States, families of the disappeared, civil society organizations and other
stakeholders to provide relevant inputs for a full report on this matter, to be issued in 2019.
In view of the richness of the information received, the Working Group decided to postpone
the release of the study, in order to adequately consider the submissions. The study is
included as an addendum to the present annual report (A/HRC/45/13/Add.3).
19.
The Working Group is thankful for the continuous support, including through
voluntary contributions, provided by donor States, notably France, Japan and the Republic
of Korea.
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