Manual for relatives of disappeared persons
When a person ‘vanishes’ after being arrested or detained, and the state denies involvement in the matter, the person’s relatives often do not know what course of action to take. For the search of their loved one several judicial and human rights mechanisms can be used. To support victims of enforced disappearances and their families, Aim for human rights presents the manual ‘Using Law Against Enforced Disappearances’. This publication offers family members step-by-step advice on what to do after a disappearance. It is based on many years of experiences of organisations all over the world. The manual is available in 5 languages.
'Using Law Against Enforced Disappearances' discusses and explains judicial terms and gives several possibilities for taking action. The publication distinguishes between three dimensions that are of importance to fighting enforced disappearances: the humanitarian, judicial and human rights dimension. Family members of the disappeared can take action in each of these dimensions, for example by going to court, by appealing to the UN Working Group for enforced disappearance or by asking help from international organisations like the International Red Cross.
Aim for human rights will distribute 1500 copies to organisations for families worldwide and will use it when training family member organisations. This manual was drafted, with assistance of some external experts, by staff of the programme Linking Solidarity of Aim for human rights and has been financed with support of the European Union, PSO and the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
For more information about enforced disappearances visit our website or send an e-mail.
