International Convention for the Protection
of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance
A/RES/72/183
Deeply concerned, in particular, by the increase in enforced or involuntary
disappearances in various regions of the world, including arrest, detention and
abduction, when these are part of or amount to enforced disappearances, and by the
growing number of reports concerning harassment, ill-treatment and intimidation of
witnesses of disappearances or relatives of persons who have disappeared,
Recalling that the Convention sets out the right of victims to know the truth
regarding the circumstances of the enforced disapp earance, the progress and results
of the investigation and the fate of the disappeared person, and sets forth State party
obligations to take appropriate measures in this regard,
Recalling also that the Convention defines the victim of enforced disappearance
as the disappeared person and any individual who has suffered harm as the direct
result of an enforced disappearance,
Acknowledging that the widespread or systematic practice of enforced
disappearance is recognized in the Convention as a crime against humanity, as defined
in applicable international law,
Stressing the importance of the work of the Working Group on Enforced or
Involuntary Disappearances,
Recalling the high-level meeting of the General Assembly held on 17 February
2017 to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the adoption of the Convention, which
provided an opportunity to review the positive impact of the Convention and to
discuss ways and best practices to prevent enforced disappearances and to combat
impunity by, inter alia, promoting the universal ratification of the Convention,
Welcoming the launch by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human
Rights of an international campaign for the universal ratification of the Convention,
Acknowledging the valuable work of the International Committee of the Red
Cross in promoting compliance with international humanitarian law in this field,
1.
Recognizes the importance of the International Convention for the
Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance, 2 the ratification and the
implementation of which will be a significant contribution to ending impunity and to
promoting and protecting all human rights for all;
2.
Welcomes the fact that 97 States have signed the Convention and 57 have
ratified or acceded to it, and calls upon States that have not yet done so to consider
signing, ratifying or acceding to the Convention as a matter of priority, as well as to
consider the option provided for in articles 31 and 32 of the Convention regarding the
Committee on Enforced Disappearances;
3.
Also welcomes the most recent reports of the Secretary-General on the
status of the Convention; 3
4.
Requests the Secretary-General and the United Nations High
Commissioner for Human Rights to increase their intensive efforts to assist States in
becoming parties to the Convention, including by supporting the actions of States to
ratify the Convention, providing technical and capacity-building assistance to States
and civil society and raising awareness about the Convention, with a view to
achieving universal adherence;
5.
Requests United Nations agencies and organizations, and invites
intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and the Working Group on
Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances, to continue to make efforts to disseminate
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United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 2716, No. 48088.
A/71/278 and A/72/280.
17-23175