For the right not to be disappeared, we say: Convention now!

Announcement of a public activity by relatives of victims of enforced disappearances to appeal to the Dutch Government to actively support a UN Convention against Enforced Disappearances.

Location:

Het Plein, Den Haag

Press centre Nieuwspoort, Lange Poten 10

Date:
Tuesday August 30th

Time:
12.00 - 15.00 h

To mark the occasion of the International Day of the Disappeared, relatives of disappeared persons from a.o. Argentina, Chile, Indonesia, Algeria, Morocco, India/Kashmir, Sri Lanka, Turkey, the Philippines, Belarus and Chechnya will gather for a public action. During the manifestation a campaign letter will be handed over to Dutch Parliament representatives. The public action will be followed by a press conference in which relatives of the disappeared will share their personal stories and HOM staff will brief journalists on the state of the debate on a new UN Instrument for the Protection of all Persons from Enforced disappearances.

All over the world the crime of disappearances has caused thousands of victims in the past. There are still many countries where people disappear, even today. Finding truth and justice, and keeping the memory alive are of paramount importance to family members of those who have been forcibly disappeared.

In their suffering and in their political struggle family members cannot address their government for help. Better international protection is therefore extremely important. To get this protection family members around the world appeal at the countries of the United Nations to approve the text of a Convention against Enforced Disappearances, with provisions that would be as strong as possible, in September 2005.

Programme:

12.00-14.00 h Public action

As everywhere else where families try to keep the memory alive of their disappeared loved ones, the relatives will gather on Het Plein and display pictures of the disappeared.
Everyone volunteering to express solidarity with their cause will be invited to join a circle march (the symbol of the protest of the Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo).

13.15 h Campaign letter

A campaign letter calling on the Dutch Government to support a strong and effective convention with an independent monitoring body will be handed to a representative of Parliament. The letter is signed by 37 organisations of families of the disappeared from all over the world and over 120 NGOs supporting them.

14.00-15.00 h Press conference and get-together of the participants

A press conference at the press centre Nieuwspoort will provide an opportunity for journalists to hear some of the personal stories of relatives of the disappeared. Possibly Members of Parliament may choose that occasion to make statements on the issue of disappearances.
Staff of various human rights organisations will be able to brief journalist on the recent developments regarding the diplomatic negotiations of the new UN Instrument on enforced disappearances.

An information package for journalists on the issue of enforced disappearances has been included as an attachment to this press release