The ICJ expressed concern today at the use of abductions in national security cases in Turkey and the enduring impunity for enforced disappearances in certain Latin American countries, during the interactive dialogue with the UN Working Group on Enforced and Involuntary Disapparances at the UN Human Rights Council.
The ICJ was not able to read the statement during the interactive dialogue, due to the limited time provided for NGO statements.
The statement reads as follows:
“Madam President.
The ICJ welcomes the Working Group’s report on extraterritorial transfers based on national security and leading to enforced disappearances and shares its assessment that these practices are dramatically on the rise (A/HRC/48/57, paras. 38 and 40).
As highlighted by the Working Group, Turkey’s unlawful practice of abductions abroad for purported national security reasons are the latest manifestation of these rendition practices. They constitute gross human rights violations and often the crime of enforced disappearance, for which no accountability or redress has been provided.
In Latin America, the ICJ continues to be concerned at the lack of justice and accountability in respect to the many thousands of persons who have been subject to enforced disappearance over decades. This pattern of impunity is particularly acute in Colombia, Guatemala, Mexico and Perú.
The ICJ calls on all these States to conduct effective, independent and prompt criminal investigations to bring perpetrators to justice, and to search for all persons who are alleged or suspect of being victims of enforced disappearance. The ICJ also calls on all States that have not done so, including Guatemala, Venezuela and Turkey to ratify or accede to the International Convention for the Protection of all Persons from Enforced Disappearance.
Mr Chair-Rapporteur, should not UN Member States use universal jurisdiction to ensure that the perpetrators of these crimes under international law are held accountable?
I thank you.”
Contact:
Massimo Frigo, ICJ UN Representative, e: massimo.frigo(a)icj.org, t: +41797499949
