Panel on Enforced Disappearances in Africa: 67th Ordinary Session of the African Commission
Panel on the ‘Situation of Enforced Disappearances in Africa: Protection of all Persons from Enforced Disappearances in Africa’
67th Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
19 November, 12:15 – 13:45 PM (GMT)
Today, the Working Group on Death Penalty, Extrajudicial, Summary or Arbitrary Killings and Enforced Disappearances in Africa is convening this panel with the UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances, the UN Committee on Enforced Disappearances and REDRESS.
The panel will look at the situation of enforced disappearances in Africa and will highlight the existing international legal framework to prevent and prosecute enforced disappearances and to provide reparations to the victims as well as the importance of the universal ratification of the Convention for the Protection of all Persons against Enforced Disappearance. Only 17 out of 54 African States have ratified the main international treaty banning enforced disappearances.
Since the 1980s, the United Nations Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances, an international expert body which examines individual cases, has received over 5,000 complaints from African countries. However, this number does not reflect the scope of this practice as official denial and a lack of proper records makes it nearly impossible to know the real number.
The panel will also outline the work that the African Commission, the United Nations and civil society are doing to combat the practice of enforced disappearance on the continent and strengthen the related legal and policy framework.
The panel will be moderated by the Honourable Commissioner Maya Sahli-Fadel, Member of the Working Group on Death Penalty, Extrajudicial, Summary or Arbitrary Killing and Enforced Disappearances in Africa.
Other speakers include:
- Honourable Commissioner Ndiamé Gaye, Chairperson of the Working Group on Death Penalty, Extrajudicial, Summary or Arbitrary killings and Enforced Disappearances in Africa.
- Mr. Bernard Duhaime, Member of the UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances
- Ms. Barbara Lochbihler, Member of the UN Committee on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances
- Ms. Eva Nudd, Legal Advisor at REDRESS
- Ms. Nana-Jo Ndow, Executive Director, ANEKED- Importance of Justice from Victims Perspective
Click here for more information