International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances (30 August 2017)

"On the occasion of International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances perpetrated by a state or with its agreement, our thoughts are with the victims and their families.

These practices are still being observed in several countries, especially in Syria and North Korea.

A specific working group was set up at the UN in 1980; it has examined more than 56,000 cases involving 112 states. In order to allow it to continue its work, France will present, together with other states, a draft resolution at the Human Rights Council aimed at renewing its mandate.

The International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearances provides for the right to know the truth about the circumstances of the enforced disappearance, the progress and results of the investigation and the fate of the disappeared person. France calls on all states that have not yet done so to ratify this text and to recognize the competence of the Committee on Enforced Disappearances. Five new states have ratified this text since the last International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances in 2016.

We remain committed, in collaboration with our Argentinian partner, to achieving the universalization of the convention and to pursuing the fight against impunity for these crimes."