A/HRC/19/58
41.
On 8 March 2011, on the occasion of the International Women’s Day, the Working
Group joined the Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and
consequences, and nine other United Nations human rights mechanisms in a press release
urging States to comply with their international obligations to respect, protect and fulfil
women’s rights.
42.
On 31 May 2011, the Working Group issued a statement on the occasion of the first
meeting of State Parties to the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons
from Enforced Disappearance and the election of members of the Committee on Enforced
Disappearance. It emphasized that the Committee and the Working Group will coexist side
by side and collaborate in their fight against enforced disappearances.
43.
To commemorate the First United Nations International Day of the Disappeared, the
Working Group issued a press release on 30 August 2011, reminding victims, including the
families and associations of victims of those who disappeared, that they are not alone. In
addition, the experts recalled that 2012 marks the 20th anniversary of the adoption by the
UN General Assembly of the Declaration on the Protection of All Persons from Enforced
Disappearance and encouraged all States and civil society to translate the Declaration into
all languages and dialects, with no distinction, since all serve the purpose to assist in its
global dissemination and the ultimate goal of preventing enforced disappearances.
44.
During the reporting period, the Working Group also issued a series of press releases
concerning China, Côte d’Ivoire, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Sudan, and the Syrian Arab
Republic. Reference to these press releases can be found in the relevant sections of this
report.
G.
Ratification of the International Convention for the Protection of All
Persons from Enforced Disappearance
45.
During the reporting period, the Working Group welcomed the entry into force of
the International Convention for the Protection of all Persons from Enforced
Disappearance.
46.
The Working Group congratulates the States that have ratified the Convention and
encourages those that have not yet done so to accept the competence of the Committee to
receive individual cases, under article 31, and inter-State complaints, under article 32 of the
Convention.
47.
The Working Group once again calls upon States that have not signed and/or ratified
the Convention to do so as soon as possible and to accept the competence of the Committee
under articles 31 and 32 of the Convention.
States that have ratified the Convention (as of 13 November 2011)
Recognition of the competence of the CED under articles 31 and 32
State
Article 31
(individual complaints)
Article 32
(inter-State complaints)
Albania
Yes
Yes
Argentina
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Armenia
Belgium
Bolivia
(Plurinational State of)
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