New UN treaty against forced disappearances drafted News
New UN treaty against forced disappearances drafted

[JURIST] Diplomats said Friday that a French-led working group of the UN Human Rights Committee has completed drafting a treaty [UN statement] that would bind signing countries to prevent enforced or involuntary disappearances [Wikipedia backgrounder], calling them "crimes against humanity". The International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearances [working paper, PDF] proposes the prosecution of any "arrest, detention, abduction or any other deprivation of liberty committed by agents of the state." Participating countries will also commit to search efforts and compensation for missing victims. According to the draft, a 10-expert committee will be established to ensure compliance by signing members, but the committee will only have jurisdiction over cases that arise after the document is approved. The working group plans to submit the 26-page draft at the next session of the UN Human Rights Committee [official website], expected to take place next March or April in Geneva. AFP has more.