Enforced or involuntary disappearance

The Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances, the first thematic United Nations human rights mechanism constituted with a universal mandate, was established by the Commission on Human Rights pursuant to its resolution 20 (XXXVI) of 29 February 1980. The mandate was most recently extended by the Human Rights Council in its resolution 54/14.

The present report contains information on the Working Group’s activities, including communications transmitted and cases examined between 3 May 2025 and 8 May 2026. A summary of the decisions on individual cases taken by the Working Group and of communications transmitted to the States concerned during the reporting period is presented in section III. Overall statistics concerning cases transmitted between 1980 and 2026 are contained in annex III.

Since 1980, the Working Group has transmitted a total of 64,627 cases to 115 States. The number of cases under active consideration that have not yet been clarified, closed or discontinued stands at 50,930 in a total of 99 States. During the reporting period, the Working Group transmitted a total of 1,723 cases to 36 States, and 374 cases were clarified, 80 cases were discontinued, and three cases were considered duplicates.

Since 2019, the Working Group has transmitted a total of 217 cases to eight non-State actors, namely, to the de facto authorities in Sana’a (113), the Libyan National Army (24), Hamas (22), the Syrian Democratic Council (in the north-east of the Syrian Arab Republic) (20), the Rapid Support Forces in the Sudan (17), the Taliban in Afghanistan (9), the self-proclaimed “Donetsk people’s republic” (8) and the Restoration Council of Shan State (4). The number of cases tantamount to enforced disappearance under active consideration that have not yet been clarified, closed or discontinued stands at 78. During the reporting period, the Working Group clarified six cases tantamount to enforced disappearance perpetrated by non-State actors based on information submitted by sources, concerning the Taliban in Afghanistan (4) and Hamas (2).¹

1. Cases transmitted to non-State actors do not in any way imply the expression of any opinion concerning the legal status of any territory, city or area or of its authorities by the Working Group or the United Nations. ↩

The activities described in the present section were carried out by the Working Group amid the continued liquidity crisis faced by the United Nations, which has posed unprecedented challenges to its ability to fully discharge its mandate (see paras. 6 and 25 below). The Working Group continues to endeavour to maximize its limited resources to ensure its sustained engagement with all relevant stakeholders. In this regard, the Working Group is thankful for the continuous support provided by States, including the voluntary financial contributions that it received during the reporting period from the Republic of Korea, as well as in-kind contributions from other actors, and reiterates its call to Member States to meet their financial obligations in full and in a predictable and timely manner.²

2. A/HRC/60/35, para. 5. ↩

During the period under review, the Working Group held three sessions: the 137th session, from 15 to 24 September³ 2025,3 the 138th session, from 26 to 30 January⁴ 20264 (held online, exceptionally, due to the liquidity situation affecting the regular budget 1 Cases transmitted to non-State actors do not in any way imply the expression of any opinion concerning the legal status of any territory, city or area or of its authorities by the Working Group or the United Nations. 2 A/HRC/60/35, para. 5. 3 A/HRC/WGEID/137/1. 4 A/HRC/WGEID/138/1. GE.26-10205 of the United Nations), and the 139th session, from 4 to 8 May⁵ 2026.5 The reports on the sessions should be considered as complementary to the present report.

3. A/HRC/WGEID/137/1. ↩
4. A/HRC/WGEID/138/1. ↩
5. A/HRC/WGEID/139/1. ↩

During the reporting period, Gabriella Citroni continued to serve, for a second term, as Chair-Rapporteur of the Working Group and Grażyna Baranowska, for a second term, as Vice-Chair, following their re-appointment during the 137th session.

The Working Group expresses its gratitude to the Government of Côte d’Ivoire for hosting the 139th session in Abidjan.

The Working Group prepared a thematic study on enforced disappearances and memorialization for submission to the Human Rights Council at its sixty-third session.⁶ A summary of the report is provided in section IV below. The Working Group is thankful to the States, victims, civil society organizations and experts who participated in consultations and made submissions in response to the call for input.⁷

6. A/HRC/63/28/Add.1. ↩
7. See https://www.ohchr.org/en/calls-for-input/2026/call-submissions-thematic-report-enforced-disappearances-and-memorialization. ↩

During its 139th session, the Working Group decided to devote its next thematic report to the topic of enforced disappearances and militarization.⁸ A description of the envisaged study is provided in section V below.

8. A/HRC/WGEID/139/1, para. 13. ↩

During the reporting period, the Working Group continued engaging and coordinating with the Committee on Enforced Disappearances, aiming to enhance the complementarity of their mandates. The Working Group held its annual joint meeting with the Committee, and they discussed their respective and joint activities, including their intention to issue a joint statement on enforced disappearances in the context of transnational repression.⁹

9. A/HRC/WGEID/137/1, para. 14. ↩

The Working Group also continued engaging and cooperating with regional institutions and human rights mechanisms, including the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe and the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. Pursuant to the Addis Ababa road map,¹⁰ the Working Group consistently engaged and cooperated with the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, as well as with other organs of the regional system, including the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child.¹¹

10. See https://www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/documents/hrbodies/special-procedures/2022-10-17/10-years_Addis-Ababa-Roadmap-brochure.pdf. ↩
11. A/HRC/WGEID/139/1, para. 16; and A/HRC/WGEID/137/1, annex IV, para. 40. See also https://www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/documents/hrbodies/ced/statements/2025-08-30-stm-en-fr-sp.pdf. ↩

The intersessional activities undertaken by members of the Working Group during the reporting period, including academic visits and technical cooperation activities organized by Governments, academia and civil society organizations, are featured in its post-session reports.¹²

12. A/HRC/WGEID/137/1, annex IV; A/HRC/WGEID/138/1, annex IV; and A/HRC/WGEID/139/1, annex IV. ↩

During the period under review, the Working Group held meetings with representatives of the Governments of Bangladesh, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Côte d’Ivoire, Ecuador, El Salvador, Finland, France, the Gambia, Germany, Italy, Japan, Mexico, the Republic of Korea, Ukraine, the United Republic of Tanzania and Yemen, as well as with representatives of the authorities of the State of Palestine. It also held in-person and online meetings with relatives of disappeared persons and non-governmental organizations. Furthermore, it held meetings with other stakeholders, including representatives of the Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances in Bangladesh, the parliament of Brazil, the Permanent Delegation of the European Union to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva, the Group of Human Rights Experts on Nicaragua, the Expert on human rights in the Sudan, the Independent Institution on Missing Persons in the Syrian Arab Republic, the independent international fact-finding mission on the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention. A number of informal meetings were also held with representatives of various States.

The Working Group expresses its appreciation to those Governments and institutions for the meetings and emphasizes the importance of cooperation and dialogue. However, it remains concerned with regard to those States that have not shown willingness to cooperate. The failure to engage in dialogue and respond to communications amounts to a violation of States’ obligation to engage in good faith with the special procedures of the Human Rights Council and, ultimately, further exacerbates the suffering of the relatives of forcibly disappeared persons who rely on the Working Group to act as a channel of communication and to support them in obtaining information on the fate and whereabouts of their loved ones.

In March 2026, the Working Group became a member of the Platform of Independent Experts on Refugee Rights and is looking forward to contributing meaningfully to the Platform’s work, addressing areas of concern and engaging in cooperation to enhance the protection and promotion of the human rights of refugees and asylum-seekers.

During the reporting period, the Working Group transmitted 1,723 new cases of enforced disappearance to 36 States.

The Working Group transmitted 1,101 of the above-mentioned cases under the urgent action procedure to 23 States.

It also transmitted 54 cases tantamount to enforced disappearance to de facto authorities in Afghanistan (5), Libya (10), the Sudan (17), the Syrian Arab Republic (2) and Yemen (20).¹³ Six cases were clarified, concerning the Taliban in Afghanistan (4) and Hamas (2).

13. The Working Group stresses that the cases addressed to de facto authorities in Afghanistan, Libya, the Sudan, the north-east of the Syrian Arab Republic and Yemen do not in any way imply the expression of any opinion concerning the legal status of any territory, city or area, or of its authorities. ↩

The Working Group clarified 374 cases in 23 States. Of these, 83 were clarified on the basis of information provided by Governments and 291 on the basis of information provided by sources. In addition, the Working Group discontinued 80 cases, concerning Brazil (3) and Cyprus (77), and considered three cases as duplicates, concerning El Salvador, Guinea and Pakistan, consequently removing them from its records.

During the reporting period, the Working Group transmitted a total of 160 communications jointly with other special procedure mechanisms. The communications included 19 joint urgent appeals to States, concerning: Algeria (1), Belarus (1), Germany (1), Honduras (1), India (1), Iran (Islamic Republic of) (3), Iraq (1), Lebanon (1), Malaysia (1), Pakistan (1), Switzerland (1), Togo (1), United Arab Emirates (1), United States of America (3) and Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) (1). In addition, one joint urgent appeal was transmitted to the de facto authorities in Sana’a (1).

In addition, the joint communications included 110 joint allegation letters transmitted to States, concerning: Algeria (2), Argentina (2), Bangladesh (2), Belarus (2), Benin (1), Brazil (2), Cambodia (1), Canada (1), Chile (3), China (8), Côte d’Ivoire (1), Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (1), Egypt (7), El Salvador (3), France (1), Germany (1), Guatemala (1), Guinea (1), Indonesia (1), Iran (Islamic Republic of) (3), Israel (2), Lao People’s Democratic Republic (1), Malaysia (1), Mali (3), Mexico (5), Nicaragua (3), Niger (1), Nigeria (1), Pakistan (3), Peru (2), Philippines (1), Republic of Korea (1), Russian Federation (2), South Africa (1), Spain (3), Sri Lanka (1), Sudan (4), Syrian Arab Republic (5), Thailand (3), Togo (1), Tunisia (1), Türkiye (1), Uganda (3), United Arab Emirates (2), United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (1), United Republic of Tanzania (6), United States of America (3), Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) (2) and Viet Nam (3). One joint allegation letter was transmitted to the Rapid Support Forces in the Sudan (1) and 23 joint allegation letters were transmitted to other entities.¹⁴

14. A/HRC/WGEID/137/1, para. 7; and A/HRC/WGEID/138/1, para. 7. ↩

Furthermore, the joint communications included six other letters concerning Ecuador (1), India (1), Indonesia (1), Pakistan (1), Sri Lanka (1) and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (1).

The Working Group transmitted seven general allegations relating to obstacles in the implementation of the Declaration on the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance. It transmitted six such general allegations to the Governments of India (1), Kenya (1), Lebanon (1), the Philippines (1), the United Republic of Tanzania (1) and the United States of America (1) and one jointly to the Governments of Indonesia and Timor-Leste (1). The Working Group also transmitted copies of the general allegation to Kenya to the Governments of Nigeria, Rwanda, South Sudan, Türkiye, and Uganda.¹⁵

15. See general allegations and replies at https://www.ohchr.org/en/special-procedures/wg-disappearances. ↩

During the reporting period, the Working Group did not conduct a country visit despite having received invitations from the Governments of Bangladesh, Canada, Maldives and the Republic of Korea,¹⁶ due to the liquidity crisis affecting the Secretariat and the work of the special procedures of the Human Rights Council.

16. See annex I for country visit requests and invitations extended. ↩

During the reporting period, the Working Group reiterated its request to visit Nepal and relaunched its request to Bangladesh.¹⁷

17. See annex I. ↩

During the reporting period, the Working Group undertook a follow-up assessment of the implementation of its recommendations following the country visit to Uruguay from 7 to 14 July 2022.¹⁸ The Working Group thanks the Government of Uruguay and all stakeholders who submitted information for its consideration. The report is available as an addendum to the present report.¹⁹

18. A/HRC/54/22/Add.1 and A/HRC/54/22/Add.1/Corr.1. ↩
19. A/HRC/63/28/Add.2. ↩

In June 2025, with the agreement of the interim Government of Bangladesh and the Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances, the Working Group provided technical advice following its visit to Dhaka from 15 to 18 June 2025. The advice was aimed at assisting the Commission of Inquiry, the interim Government and the newly elected Government to address enforced disappearances through public policies with the aim of ensuring truth, justice and reparations.²⁰

20. See wgeid-technical-advice-bangladesh-june-202.pdf. ↩

In April 2026, the Working Group presented its technical advice to the Government of Chile regarding the implementation of the National Plan for the Search for Truth and Justice, which concerns victims of enforced disappearance during the dictatorship.²¹ The 14 A/HRC/WGEID/137/1, para. 7; and A/HRC/WGEID/138/1, para. 7. 15 See general allegations and replies at https://www.ohchr.org/en/special-procedures/wgdisappearances. 16 See annex I for country visit requests and invitations extended. 17 See annex I. 18 A/HRC/54/22/Add.1 and A/HRC/54/22/Add.1/Corr.1. 19 A/HRC/63/28/Add.2. 20 See wgeid-technical-advice-bangladesh-june-202.pdf. 21 See https://www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/documents/issues/ disappearances/20260416-technical-advice-wg-to-chile-es.pdf (in Spanish). GE.26-10205 Working Group thanks the Government of Chile for its ongoing cooperation and welcomes the continuation of this technical cooperation.

21. See https://www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/documents/issues/disappearances/20260416-technical-advice-wg-to-chile-es.pdf (in Spanish). ↩

During the reporting period, the Working Group commenced its technical cooperation with the Government of the Gambia to provide advice regarding its draft national bill on enforced disappearance.22 22 A/HRC/WGEID/139/1, para. 14. III. Decisions taken by the Working Group on individual cases and communications transmitted to the States concerned during the reporting period²³ Number of outstanding cases at the beginning of the reporting period Number of cases transmitted to the Government during the reporting period Number of cases clarified during the reporting period by: Number of cases of possible clarification by the Government (six-month rule) Number of outstanding cases at the end of the reporting period Number of communications sent during the reporting period Number of communications received during the reporting period Prompt intervention letter Urgent appeal Allegation letter General allegation Other letter Response to prompt intervention letter Response to urgent appeal Response to allegation letter Response to general allegation Response to other letter Urgent procedures Standard cases Government Sources Afghanistana Algeria 3 341 3 384 Argentina 3 059 3 059 Armenia Bangladesh Belarus Benin Brazil²⁴ Burundi Cambodia Canada 23 Urgent procedures relate to cases of enforced disappearance that have occurred within three months prior to the receipt of a report by the Working Group; or cases of enforced disappearance that have occurred prior to the three-month limit, but within one year prior to the receipt of a report by the Working Group, provided that there is a link with a case that occurred within the three-month period. Pursuant to paragraph 10 of its methods of work, the Working Group may decide to use the urgent procedure in situations other than those here described. Standard cases are cases of enforced disappearance that have occurred prior to the three-month limit. Prompt intervention letters concern cases of intimidation, persecution or reprisal against families of disappeared persons, witnesses, lawyers, human rights defenders or other individuals concerned with disappearances. Urgent appeals concern allegations of enforced disappearance, or allegations regarding persons deprived of liberty who are at risk of being disappeared. Allegation letters and general allegations concern alleged obstacles encountered in the implementation of the Declaration on the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance. Other letters concern bills, laws, policies and practices that do not comply with international human rights law and standards. 24 During its 139th session, the Working Group decided to discontinue three cases. See A/HRC/WGEID/139/1, para. 25. Number of outstanding cases at the beginning of the reporting period Number of cases transmitted to the Government during the reporting period Number of cases clarified during the reporting period by: Number of cases of possible clarification by the Government (six-month rule) Number of outstanding cases at the end of the reporting period Number of communications sent during the reporting period Number of communications received during the reporting period Prompt intervention letter Urgent appeal Allegation letter General allegation Other letter Response to prompt intervention letter Response to urgent appeal Response to allegation letter Response to general allegation Response to other letter Urgent procedures Standard cases Government Sources Chile China Congo Côte d’Ivoire Cyprus Democratic People’s Republic of Korea Democratic Republic of the Congo Ecuador Egypt El Salvador²⁶ 2 367 2 29926 France Germany Guatemala 2 897 2 897 Guinea²⁷ Guinea-Bissau Honduras India Indonesia 25 During its 139th session, the Working Group decided to discontinue 77 cases. See A/HRC/WGEID/139/1, para. 35. 26 During its 137th session, the Working Group decided to consider one outstanding case as a duplicate. The duplicate case was consequently removed from the Working Group’s records. 27 During its 139th session, the Working Group decided to consider one outstanding case as a duplicate. The duplicate case was consequently removed from the Working Group’s records. Number of outstanding cases at the beginning of the reporting period Number of cases transmitted to the Government during the reporting period Number of cases clarified during the reporting period by: Number of cases of possible clarification by the Government (six-month rule) Number of outstanding cases at the end of the reporting period Number of communications sent during the reporting period Number of communications received during the reporting period Prompt intervention letter Urgent appeal Allegation letter General allegation Other letter Response to prompt intervention letter Response to urgent appeal Response to allegation letter Response to general allegation Response to other letter Urgent procedures Standard cases Government Sources Iran (Islamic Republic of) Iraq 16 429 16 429 Israel Kenya Kuwait Lao People’s Democratic Republic Latvia Lebanon Libyab Malaysia Mali Mexico Morocco²⁸ Mozambique Nicaragua Niger Nigeria Pakistan²⁹ 1 07129 Peru 2 361 2 361 Philippines 28 During its 138th session, the Working Group decided to reopen eight cases based on the information provided by the sources. 29 During its 137th session, the Working Group decided to consider one outstanding case as a duplicate. The duplicate case was consequently removed from the Working Group’s records. Number of outstanding cases at the beginning of the reporting period Number of cases transmitted to the Government during the reporting period Number of cases clarified during the reporting period by: Number of cases of possible clarification by the Government (six-month rule) Number of outstanding cases at the end of the reporting period Number of communications sent during the reporting period Number of communications received during the reporting period Prompt intervention letter Urgent appeal Allegation letter General allegation Other letter Response to prompt intervention letter Response to urgent appeal Response to allegation letter Response to general allegation Response to other letter Urgent procedures Standard cases Government Sources Qatar Republic of Korea Russian Federation³⁰ 2 633 3 237 Rwanda Saudi Arabia South Africa South Sudan Spain Sri Lanka 6 306 6 306 Sudanc Syrian Arab Republicd 1 135 Switzerland Tajikistan Thailand Timor-Leste Togo Tunisia Türkiye Turkmenistan Uganda United Arab Emirates 30 Cases were clarified based on the information provided by the Government of Ukraine. 31 Due to a clerical error, the number of outstanding cases reported for Saudi Arabia in A/HRC/60/35, sect. 3, was 29. This number has been corrected to 28. Number of outstanding cases at the beginning of the reporting period Number of cases transmitted to the Government during the reporting period Number of cases clarified during the reporting period by: Number of cases of possible clarification by the Government (six-month rule) Number of outstanding cases at the end of the reporting period Number of communications sent during the reporting period Number of communications received during the reporting period Prompt intervention letter Urgent appeal Allegation letter General allegation Other letter Response to prompt intervention letter Response to urgent appeal Response to allegation letter Response to general allegation Response to other letter Urgent procedures Standard cases Government Sources United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland United Republic of Tanzania United States of America Uruguay Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) Viet Nam Yemene State of Palestinef a Five cases were transmitted to the Taliban and four were clarified based on information provided by the sources. These cases are not counted in the statistics of Afghanistan. b Ten cases were transmitted to the Libyan National Army. These cases are not counted in the statistics of Libya. c Seventeen cases were transmitted to the Rapid Support Forces. These cases are not counted in the statistics of the Sudan. d Two cases were transmitted to the de facto authorities in the north-east of the Syrian Arab Republic. These cases are not counted in the statistics of the Syrian Arab Republic. e Twenty cases were transmitted to the de facto authorities in Sana’a. These cases are not counted in the statistics of Yemen. The Working Group transmitted, jointly with other special procedure mechanisms, one urgent appeal letter to the de facto authorities in Sana’a. f Two cases were clarified on the basis of information provided by sources. These cases are not counted in the statistics of the State of Palestine. GE.26-10205

23. Urgent procedures relate to cases of enforced disappearance that have occurred within three months prior to the receipt of a report by the Working Group; or cases of enforced disappearance that have occurred prior to the three-month limit, but within one year prior to the receipt of a report by the Working Group, provided that there is a link with a case that occurred within the three-month period. Pursuant to paragraph 10 of its methods of work, the Working Group may decide to use the urgent procedure in situations other than those here described. Standard cases are cases of enforced disappearance that have occurred prior to the three-month limit. Prompt intervention letters concern cases of intimidation, persecution or reprisal against families of disappeared persons, witnesses, lawyers, human rights defenders or other individuals concerned with disappearances. Urgent appeals concern allegations of enforced disappearance, or allegations regarding persons deprived of liberty who are at risk of being disappeared. Allegation letters and general allegations concern alleged obstacles encountered in the implementation of the Declaration on the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance. Other letters concern bills, laws, policies and practices that do not comply with international human rights law and standards. ↩
24. During its 139th session, the Working Group decided to discontinue three cases. See A/HRC/WGEID/139/1, para. 25. ↩
26. During its 137th session, the Working Group decided to consider one outstanding case as a duplicate. The duplicate case was consequently removed from the Working Group’s records. ↩
27. During its 139th session, the Working Group decided to consider one outstanding case as a duplicate. The duplicate case was consequently removed from the Working Group’s records. ↩
28. During its 138th session, the Working Group decided to reopen eight cases based on the information provided by the sources. ↩
29. During its 137th session, the Working Group decided to consider one outstanding case as a duplicate. The duplicate case was consequently removed from the Working Group’s records. ↩
30. Cases were clarified based on the information provided by the Government of Ukraine. ↩

In its thematic study submitted to the Human Rights Council at its sixty-third session pursuant to Council resolution 54/14, the Working Group examines the relationship between enforced disappearances and memorialization, identifying memorialization as a crucial form of reparation and an integral component of the right to truth. Enforced disappearance is a continuous violation, leaving families without knowledge of the fate or whereabouts of the disappeared person, and is accompanied by denial, obstruction and silence by the State. Within this context, memorialization serves to preserve memory, restore dignity and counter denial, while contributing to the prevention of recurrence. At the same time, the Working Group underscores that memorialization cannot replace the State’s obligations to ensure truth, justice, reparation and guarantees of non-recurrence and must not result in impunity.

The study situates memorialization within the legal framework governing reparations for enforced disappearance. It emphasizes that reparation encompasses both material and moral measures, including forms of satisfaction such as memorials, commemorative acts, preservation of memory sites and the dignified return and burial of remains. Memorialization has also been recognized as part of the State’s reparative obligations by international and regional mechanisms, including the Human Rights Committee and the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, as well as by domestic courts.

The Working Group further establishes that memorialization forms part of the right to truth. Families have the right to know the circumstances of the enforced disappearance, the progress and outcome of investigations, and the fate and whereabouts of their relatives. States are therefore required not only to investigate and disclose information, but also to preserve archives, protect evidence and safeguard collective memory from distortion or erasure. The study also highlights that denial of the fate or whereabouts of disappeared persons constitutes a continuing violation, intensifying the suffering of families.

A central element of the study is that memorialization must be victim-centred and participatory. Families of disappeared persons, victims’ associations and civil society should play a decisive role in shaping memorialization initiatives. Given the continuous nature of enforced disappearance, families should not be compelled to presume the death of their relatives before the truth is established. Memorialization remains a necessary component of reparation even after the release of the person or identification of remains.

In the study, the Working Group reviews domestic legal frameworks and practices, noting that only a limited number of States have adopted explicit legal frameworks for the memorialization of enforced disappearances and that implementation is often uneven. In many contexts, memorialization initiatives are principally driven by families and civil society, sometimes with State support, but often in its absence. A wide range of practices has emerged globally, including memorial sites, commemorative events, archives, artistic initiatives and digital platforms, reflecting local contexts and the agency of victims’ communities.

At the same time, the Working Group highlights significant challenges. Persons involved in memorialization frequently face harassment, intimidation, reprisals and violence. Memorials have been vandalized, dismantled, appropriated or insufficiently protected, and, in some cases, States themselves have interfered with or altered memorialization initiatives. Additional obstacles include restricted access to archives, ongoing conflict or violence, cross-border challenges and the instrumentalization of memory through competing or exclusionary narratives.

In conclusion, in the study, the Working Group presents memorialization as an essential dimension of dignity, truth and reparation in cases of enforced disappearance. It stresses that States bear the primary responsibility for ensuring and supporting memorialization, including through comprehensive legal frameworks, the meaningful participation of victims, the protection of memorialization initiatives and the preservation of archives. Memorialization is framed in the study as a necessary and enduring component of the broader system of accountability.

The Working Group decided at its 139th session to dedicate its next thematic study, to be submitted to the Human Rights Council at its sixty-sixth session, to examining the role of militarization in enforced disappearances. The study will: (a) provide an analysis of the evolving context of militarization, particularly with regard to its expansion from public security into areas such as counter-terrorism, migration enforcement, and the policing of land and natural resources; (b) outline the perspectives of victims and highlight their specific vulnerabilities; (c) identify State agents as the primary perpetrators, as well as non-State actors acting on behalf, or with the support or acquiescence, of the State who participate in enforced disappearances and acts tantamount thereto in the context of militarization; and (d) assess opportunities, obstacles and gaps in search activities, accountability mechanisms and access to justice. The Working Group will draw on the best practices identified to formulate recommendations for States, victims and civil society, aimed at strengthening prevention, accountability and access to justice. The Working Group will issue a call for input and conduct expert consultations in late 2026 and early 2027 in preparation for the study.

The Working Group continues to record with concern multiple instances of reprisals against victims who have suffered direct harm from an enforced disappearance, human rights defenders and lawyers in their efforts to advocate and search for disappeared persons. The Working Group is seriously concerned that many victims of enforced disappearance face legal and structural challenges, that their efforts to report cases are ignored, delayed or go unanswered, and that national search activities are deficient, creating a wide range of barriers and limitations at every stage of seeking truth and ascertaining the fate and whereabouts of disappeared persons. The Working Group is concerned about the accountability gap observed when calling upon States, through its communication and humanitarian procedures, to account for their acts or omissions in relation to enforced disappearances. The Working Group recommends that States take immediate steps to undertake independent, impartial and thorough investigations and reply to communications when they receive credible reports of enforced disappearance and requests to comment on concerns raised through general allegations about their obligations to implement the Declaration on the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance.

The Working Group continues to encourage States that have not yet done so to become Parties to the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance and to recognize the competence of the Committee on Enforced Disappearances to receive and examine individual and inter-State complaints. The Working Group welcomes that, during the reporting period, Estonia became a Party to the Convention, on 13 January 2026. The Working Group invites Estonia to recognize the competence of the Committee to receive and consider communications from or on behalf of individuals in accordance with article 31 of the Convention.

In addition to the observations in the present section and those formulated in its post-session documents (see para. 6 above), the Working Group makes the country-specific and thematic observations set out below in relation to situations that are of particular concern.

The Working Group reiterates its regret at the continued failure of the Government of Algeria to effectively address the numerous allegations of enforced disappearance registered under its humanitarian procedure relating to cases from the Algerian civil war³² and notes the lack of progress made in searching for forcibly disappeared persons, establishing their fate and whereabouts, ensuring accountability and guaranteeing truth, justice and reparation.³³

32. A/HRC/WGEID/137/1, para. 19; and A/HRC/WGEID/138/1, para. 15. ↩
33. A/HRC/60/35, para. 55. ↩

It also expresses concern at reports of repressive campaigns against victims’ associations, including harassment and arbitrary and in some cases incommunicado detention of their members, and recalls the obligation of the State to protect victims and human rights defenders and to promptly, impartially, independently and thoroughly investigate all allegations of reprisals.³⁴

34. DZA 2/2026; and https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2026/05/algeria-un-experts-alarmed-crackdown-families-disappeared-persons-and-civil. All communications and replies thereto mentioned in the present report are available at https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/Tmsearch/TMDocuments. ↩

The Working Group acknowledges the efforts undertaken by the interim Government to develop national legislation on enforced disappearances and expresses the hope that the Government will introduce the bill on the prevention and remedy of enforced disappearance to Parliament following extensive and inclusive national consultations with all stakeholders as a victim‑centred measure to ensure truth, justice and reparation, ensuring that its provisions are consistent with international human rights standards.³⁵ The Working Group recalls the technical advice that it provided to the Government following its technical visit from 15 to 18 June 2025, in which it welcomed the positive steps taken, while highlighting persistent challenges, in particular the lack of accountability and the fear among families and stakeholders of reporting cases or searching for forcibly disappeared persons.³⁶ It also calls for independent investigations and the protection of survivors, families, witnesses and anyone who suffered harm as a result of an enforced disappearance.

35. BGD 3/2026. ↩
36. See https://www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/documents/issues/disappearances/wgeid-technical-advice-bangladesh-june-202.pdf. ↩

During the reporting period, the Working Group received information indicating that persons who had been subjected to prolonged isolation in detention in connection with the protests following the 2020 presidential election had been released and subsequently transferred abroad.³⁷ The Working Group notes that these developments constitute an important humanitarian outcome, as they contribute to clarifying the fate and whereabouts of these persons. At the same time, it expresses concern that such releases reportedly took place in the context of political arrangements rather than through investigations and accountability processes in relation to the human rights violations to which they had been subjected. In this regard, the Working Group emphasizes that victims should not be treated as a means to achieve political ends, but as rights holders entitled to protection, truth, justice and reparation in accordance with international human rights law.

37. A/HRC/WGEID/138/1, para. 24. ↩

Nevertheless, the Working Group remains concerned that the use of isolation measures in penitentiary facilities persists,³⁸ as reflected in the absence of any indication that allegations of the use of such measures have been effectively investigated, coupled with the Government’s previous denials.³⁹ It reiterates that prolonged incommunicado detention may amount to, or facilitate, enforced disappearance and other serious human rights violations. The Working Group underscores that the clarification of cases does not absolve the Government of its obligations and recalls its duty to conduct prompt, thorough, independent and impartial investigations to hold those responsible accountable and to ensure that victims have access to truth, justice and adequate reparation. 33 A/HRC/60/35, para. 55. 34 DZA 2/2026; and https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2026/05/algeria-un-experts-alarmedcrackdown-families-disappeared-persons-and-civil. All communications and replies thereto mentioned in the present report are available at https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/Tmsearch/TMDocuments. 35 BGD 3/2026. 36 See https://www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/documents/issues/disappearances/wgeid-technicaladvice-bangladesh-june-202.pdf. 37 A/HRC/WGEID/138/1, para. 24. 38 BLR 2/2026. 39 See government replies to BLR 7/2025 and BLR 3/2025. GE.26-10205 Burundi

38. BLR 2/2026. ↩
39. See government replies to BLR 7/2025 and BLR 3/2025. ↩

Numerous allegations of abductions and enforced disappearances perpetrated by officials of the National Intelligence Service continued to be reported, in the absence of any response from the Government.⁴⁰ The Working Group deeply regrets the Government’s continued repression of the Burundian diaspora abroad, in particular in the United Republic of Tanzania, including the ongoing persecution and abduction of activists and human rights defenders seeking to establish the fate and whereabouts of forcibly disappeared persons, including in refugee camps.⁴¹

40. A/HRC/WGEID/137/1, paras. 32 and 33; A/HRC/WGEID/138/1, para. 30; and A/HRC/WGEID/139/1, para. 26. ↩
41. A/HRC/WGEID/138/1, para. 151. ↩

The Working Group expresses serious concern at the increasing number of cases that it has received involving nationals of Japan who were reportedly abducted by agents of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea or lured to the country and subsequently disappeared.⁴² It reiterates that these abductions, including enforced disappearances, and the denial of repatriation, occurred over several decades, particularly during and after the Korean War and throughout the cold war period, as part of a broader pattern of abductions affecting nationals of Japan and of the Republic of Korea. The Working Group also expresses concern at the reported enforced disappearance of religious figures and of persons who had been forcibly returned to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea by neighbouring States.⁴³ The Working Group recognizes the severe and enduring suffering inflicted upon the families, whose anguish has been compounded by decades of uncertainty regarding the fate and whereabouts of their loved ones. It further recalls how such practices, carried out in a widespread or systematic manner pursuant to State policy, amount to crimes against humanity.

42. PRK 1/2025; A/HRC/WGEID/137/1, para. 49; and A/HRC/WGEID/139/1, para. 36. ↩
43. A/HRC/WGEID/137/1, para. 49; A/HRC/WGEID/138/1, para. 39; and A/HRC/WGEID/139/1, para. 36. ↩

The Working Group reiterates its serious concerns about enforced disappearances carried out in the context of counter-terrorism and national security investigations.⁴⁴ The Working Group and other special procedure mandate holders have raised alarm at mass trials, including of more than 90 lawyers charged under the counter-terrorism law and Penal Code, many of whom were subjected to enforced disappearance, and at the practice known as “rotation”, whereby individuals due for release are repeatedly charged on similar grounds and returned to pretrial detention.⁴⁵ The Working Group also raises concern about the trial of 88 protesters who were forcibly disappeared for periods ranging from two to five days and later charged with a range of criminal and national security offences before the Supreme State Security Prosecution.⁴⁶ 46 It stresses that any deprivation of liberty accompanied by concealment of fate or whereabouts – including for short periods – constitutes enforced disappearance. The Working Group raises further concern at the seeming escalation in the targeting and criminalization of lawyers and human rights defenders.⁴⁷ It recalls that States have a continuing obligation to clarify the fate and whereabouts of disappeared persons and to ensure that all deprivation of liberty is promptly registered and subject to judicial oversight. 40 A/HRC/WGEID/137/1, paras. 32 and 33; A/HRC/WGEID/138/1, para. 30; and A/HRC/WGEID/139/1, para. 26. 41 A/HRC/WGEID/138/1, para. 151. 42 PRK 1/2025; A/HRC/WGEID/137/1, para. 49; and A/HRC/WGEID/139/1, para. 36. 43 A/HRC/WGEID/137/1, para. 49; A/HRC/WGEID/138/1, para. 39; and A/HRC/WGEID/139/1, para. 36. 44 A/HRC/57/54, para. 67. 45 EGY 7/2025. 46 EGY 8/2025. 47 EGY 5/2025 and EGY 9/2025. GE.26-10205

44. A/HRC/57/54, para. 67. ↩
45. EGY 7/2025. ↩
46. EGY 8/2025. ↩
47. EGY 5/2025 and EGY 9/2025. ↩

Furthermore, the large numbers of transmitted cases, many of which remain outstanding, concerning Egypt over successive reporting cycles raise serious concerns about the effectiveness of existing preventive safeguards and accountability mechanisms.⁴⁸

48. A/HRC/60/35, para. 65; and A/HRC/57/42, para. 67. ↩

The Working Group expresses grave concern at the deteriorating situation in Guinea and reports of abductions and enforced disappearances since the 2021 military coup, including cases in which family members of opposition figures, human rights defenders and other individuals perceived as critical of the Government, including children, have been targeted as a form of retaliation.⁴⁹ Such practices, given their particularly cruel and punitive nature, constitute serious violations of international human rights law and contribute to a climate of fear and intimidation that undermines the exercise of fundamental freedoms.⁵⁰ The Working Group further regrets the Government’s continued failure to cooperate with its mandate and urges the authorities to ensure effective prevention of and protection against enforced disappearance. It calls for prompt, independent, impartial and thorough investigations into all allegations, with a view to ensuring accountability and guaranteeing truth, justice and reparation for all victims.

49. GIN 2/2025; A/HRC/WGEID/137/1, para. 71; and A/HRC/WGEID/139/1, paras. 59 and 60. ↩
50. See https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2026/05/guinea-government-silence-fuels-fears-children-and-adult-forcibly. ↩

Over the past three years, the number of cases of enforced disappearance, including of children, reported to the Working Group that have occurred at the hands of Israeli State agents operating in Gaza, and expanding into Lebanon and the Syrian Arab Republic, continues to escalate at an alarming rate, which, in view of its widespread or systematic nature, may amount to a crime against humanity.⁵¹ The Working Group has received reports of widespread patterns of enforced disappearances among Palestinians in Gaza, in particular of persons forcibly disappeared while seeking aid at the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation aid distribution sites and of children, who are subsequently held in administrative detention without criminal charge for prolonged periods, with no information available about their condition or the status of legal proceedings.⁵² In this regard, the Working Group has also addressed the reported involvement of private military and security companies – UG Solutions and Safe Reach Solutions – in ascertaining the fate and whereabouts of disappeared persons. The Working Group reiterates that enforced disappearance targeting starving civilians seeking to realize their basic right to food amounts, inter alia, to torture.⁵³

51. A/HRC/60/35, para. 69. See also https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2025/10/un-experts-warn-against-continued-violations-ceasefire-lebanon-and-urge; https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2025/07/un-experts-call-end-anguish-families-seeking-truth-about-disappeared-loved; and https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2026/04/regional-conflict-has-eclipsed-surge-human-rights-violations-against. ↩
52. ISR 12/2025; A/HRC/WGEID/137/1, para. 84; A/HRC/WGEID/138/1, para. 73; and A/HRC/WGEID/139/1, para. 76. ↩
53. See https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2025/08/un-experts-alarmed-reports-enforced-disappearances-gaza-humanitarian. ↩

The Working Group expresses concern at the adoption of the Death Penalty for Terrorists Law by the Knesset on 30 March 2026. It is particularly concerning that the law establishes a two-track system that may result in the discriminatory application of the death penalty. This concern is heightened in the light of the consistent findings of patterns of arbitrary arrests and enforced disappearance, serious violations of due process and fair trial guarantees, among other human rights violations, and existing discriminatory laws and policies affecting Palestinians. In this context, the Working Group underscores the risk that 48 A/HRC/60/35, para. 65; and A/HRC/57/42, para. 67. 49 GIN 2/2025; A/HRC/WGEID/137/1, para. 71; and A/HRC/WGEID/139/1, paras. 59 and 60. 50 See https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2026/05/guinea-government-silence-fuels-fearschildren-and-adult-forcibly. 51 A/HRC/60/35, para. 69. See also https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2025/10/un-experts-warnagainst-continued-violations-ceasefire-lebanon-and-urge; https://www.ohchr.org/en/pressreleases/2025/07/un-experts-call-end-anguish-families-seeking-truth-about-disappeared-loved; and https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2026/04/regional-conflict-has-eclipsed-surge-human-rightsviolations-against. 52 ISR 12/2025; A/HRC/WGEID/137/1, para. 84; A/HRC/WGEID/138/1, para. 73; and A/HRC/WGEID/139/1, para. 76. 53 See https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2025/08/un-experts-alarmed-reports-enforceddisappearances-gaza-humanitarian. GE.26-10205 such a framework may further entrench impunity and undermine the safeguards necessary to prevent enforced disappearance and related grave human rights violations.⁵⁴ Mexico

54. See https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2026/02/israel-un-experts-urge-withdrawal-death-penalty-bill. ↩

The Working Group remains deeply concerned about information received regarding the discovery of clandestine cremation sites allegedly linked to organized crime in the municipality of Teuchitlán, Jalisco, and reports concerning the flawed handling, preservation and identification of skeletal remains and personal effects recovered from such sites. The Working Group further expresses concern regarding the continuing threats, attacks and killings targeting relatives searching for disappeared persons and human rights defenders involved in search efforts.⁵⁵ In this regard, the Working Group reiterates that persons searching for disappeared relatives play a fundamental role in the protection and promotion of human rights and should be recognized and protected as human rights defenders.

55. MEX 4/2026 and MEX 8/2025. ↩

The Working Group expresses concern at reports of a widespread forensic crisis affecting the country’s capacity to identify human remains and effectively investigate disappearances, as well as allegations of enforced disappearances and other forms of disappearance in Chiapas, including reports of links with organized crime.⁵⁶ The Working Group recalls the obligation of the State to ensure the protection of all persons engaged in search activities, to investigate promptly, thoroughly, independently and impartially all threats, attacks and killings against them and to strengthen search, identification and accountability mechanisms in accordance with international human rights standards.

56. MEX 3/2026. ↩

The Working Group notes that the Committee on Enforced Disappearances took the decision,⁵⁷ under article 34 of the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance, to urgently refer the situation of enforced disappearances in Mexico to the General Assembly for the consideration of measures aimed at supporting the State in preventing, investigating, punishing and eradicating enforced disappearances. The Working Group calls upon Mexico to constructively engage in this process, guided by the demands of families of disappeared persons for access to justice and redress.⁵⁸

57. See https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2026/04/mexico-un-committee-requests-general-assembly-consideration-enforced. ↩
58. See https://www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/documents/press/2026-non-un/20260515-wgdisappearances-mexico-demands-families-disappea.pdf. ↩

The Working Group expresses its grave concern about enforced disappearances in Nicaragua and continues to urge the Nicaraguan authorities to clarify the fate and whereabouts of more than 120 people who have been forcibly disappeared in the country, including those detained in connection with the 2018 human rights crisis.⁵⁹ Among them are Indigenous leaders defending land and natural resources, elders, women and people with ties to political parties, as well as others with no known political affiliations, who are perceived as dissenting figures. The Working Group regrets that it has received no responses from the Government to any case transmitted under its humanitarian procedure since 2018, notwithstanding multiple reminders and its sustained attempts to communicate with the authorities. The Working Group continues to receive cases of enforced disappearance concerning Nicaragua.

59. See https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2025/10/nicaragua-un-experts-say-continuing-repression-population-through-enforced. ↩

In addition, the Working Group is appalled by reports indicating that individuals subjected to enforced disappearance may have died in custody under conditions that could amount to torture. In this regard, it is deeply alarmed at the death, in May 2026, of Brooklyn 54 See https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2026/02/israel-un-experts-urge-withdrawal-deathpenalty-bill. 55 MEX 4/2026 and MEX 8/2025. 56 MEX 3/2026. 57 See https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2026/04/mexico-un-committee-requests-generalassembly-consideration-enforced. 58 See https://www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/documents/press/2026-non-un/20260515wgdisappearances-mexico-demands-families-disappea.pdf. 59 See https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2025/10/nicaragua-un-experts-say-continuingrepression-population-through-enforced. GE.26-10205 Rivera, a Member of the National Assembly and leader of the Miskito people, who had been detained and subsequently forcibly disappeared in September 2023, and reports that family members were forcibly disappeared when attempting to recover the remains of Mr. Rivera.⁶⁰ Pakistan

60. See https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2026/05/nicaragua-un-experts-appalled-allegations-death-custody-forcibly-disappeared. ↩

The Working Group reiterates its deep concern at the increasing number of reports of enforced disappearance allegedly perpetrated by the Pakistani authorities, as well as at the reduced engagement of and number of responses from the Government with regard to the communications submitted pursuant to the humanitarian mandate.⁶¹

61. A/HRC/WGEID/137/1, paras. 112 and 113; A/HRC/WGEID/138/1, paras. 96 and 97; and A/HRC/WGEID/139/1, paras. 92 and 93. ↩

The Working Group also expresses concerns about legislative amendments broadening and institutionalizing preventive detention powers within the counter-terrorism framework of Pakistan, raising a substantial risk of enforced disappearance and other human rights violations. The allegations and cases received by the Working Group seem to indicate that these measures may be applied in a discriminatory or disproportionate manner against persons belonging to minority groups, political dissidents, human rights defenders, journalists and students, especially in Balochistan Province.⁶²

62. PAK 12/2025. ↩

For over four years, the largest number of submissions received by the Working Group under its humanitarian mandate has related to disappearances in the context of the full-scale invasion by the Russian Federation of Ukraine, underscoring the profound humanitarian impact of the ongoing armed conflict on victims.⁶³ Despite the Government’s failure to confirm the captivity of some Ukrainian prisoners of war through the International Committee of the Red Cross, the repatriation of Ukrainian prisoners of war through exchange processes raises hopes among families in Ukraine, including those whose relatives may have been killed in action. The Working Group recalls that parties to the conflict are under an obligation under international humanitarian law to account for the dead and to provide families with information on the fate and whereabouts of their relatives. In this regard, the Working Group regrets that the Russian Federation persists in refusing to cooperate with its requests for information and any attempts to establish a dialogue, thereby hindering efforts to clarify cases and prolonging the suffering of families.

63. A/HRC/60/35, paras. 81–83; A/HRC/57/54, paras. 82–85; and A/HRC/54/22, paras. 93–95. ↩

The Working Group continued registering cases of enforced disappearance of civilians,⁶⁴ including children, in certain areas of Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia Oblasts of Ukraine, temporarily occupied by the Russian Federation. In this regard, it echoes the findings of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine, which concluded that the disappearance of deported or transferred Ukrainian children has occurred on a widespread and systematic basis, pursuant to State policy, and amounts to a crime against humanity.⁶⁵

64. RUS 14/2025. ↩
65. A/HRC/61/61, para. 17. ↩

Against this background, the Working Group expresses its deepest concern at the backlog of cases, amounting to more than 7,500. The Working Group is fully aware that these are not mere figures: each case represents an individual tragedy, as well as the suffering of family members who continue to seek the truth about the fate and whereabouts of their loved one. The Working Group reiterates its unwavering commitment to discharging its mandate and addressing this backlog. 60 See https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2026/05/nicaragua-un-experts-appalled-allegationsdeath-custody-forcibly-disappeared. 61 A/HRC/WGEID/137/1, paras. 112 and 113; A/HRC/WGEID/138/1, paras. 96 and 97; and A/HRC/WGEID/139/1, paras. 92 and 93. 62 PAK 12/2025. 63 A/HRC/60/35, paras. 81–83; A/HRC/57/54, paras. 82–85; and A/HRC/54/22, paras. 93–95. 64 RUS 14/2025. 65 A/HRC/61/61, para. 17. GE.26-10205 Rwanda

The Working Group reiterates its serious concern at credible and consistent reports regarding the involvement of Rwanda in abductions, enforced disappearances, killings, arbitrary detentions and torture of nationals of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, including members of minority ethnic groups, notably Tutsi, Hutu and other communities in the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in the context of operations conducted by the Alliance Fleuve Congo/Mouvement du 23 mars armed group.⁶⁶ It further notes that human rights defenders, as well as individuals seeking to establish the fate and whereabouts of disappeared persons, have reportedly been targeted in this context.

66. A/HRC/60/35, para. 84. ↩

The Working Group notes with particular concern the marked discrepancy between documented findings indicating that Rwandan forces have played a significant role in supporting and directing the operations of the Alliance Fleuve Congo/Mouvement du 23 mars and the continued denial of such involvement by the authorities.⁶⁷ It emphasizes that the persistence of such denial in the face of substantial and corroborated evidence undermines accountability and obstructs efforts to address serious human rights violations. The Working Group further recalls that any support for armed groups engaged in widespread abuses may entail the responsibility of the State under international law and urges the authorities to ensure full transparency, cooperate with international mechanisms and take all measures necessary to prevent and address violations, including by ensuring accountability and providing effective remedies.

67. A/HRC/WGEID/137/1, para. 131. ↩

The Working Group remains deeply concerned at the pervasive pattern of enforced disappearances and acts tantamount thereto in the context of the ongoing conflict in the Sudan, exacerbated by ethnically motivated violence, large-scale displacement and sexual and gender-based violence. Those affected include men, women, children, humanitarian workers and civil society actors in Khartoum, Darfur and Kordofan, who are forcibly displaced and left without protection or recourse to justice.⁶⁸ In addition, abductions and enforced disappearances, among other human rights violations, targeting lawyers and human rights defenders for carrying out their professional duties are alarming and are strongly condemned by the Working Group.⁶⁹ States have an obligation to ensure the protection of everyone from violence, threats, retaliation, de facto or de jure adverse discrimination, pressure or any other arbitrary action as a consequence of his or her legitimate exercise of the rights referred to in the Declaration on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms.⁷⁰

68. SDN 3/2025. ↩
69. SDN 2/2025, SDN 2/2026 and SDN 6/2025. ↩
70. Declaration on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, art. 12 (2). ↩

The Working Group is deeply alarmed at the exponential increase in the number of cases of enforced disappearance and acts tantamount thereto reported under its humanitarian procedure, concerning events in the Syrian Arab Republic in Homs, Tartous, Latakia, Hama, Sweida and Damascus, against persons belonging to the Alawite community⁷¹ and the Druze community.⁷² It is particularly concerned about the alleged targeting of women and children in the armed clashes, violence and unrest that have occurred in these areas since December 66 A/HRC/60/35, para. 84. 67 A/HRC/WGEID/137/1, para. 131. 68 SDN 3/2025. 69 SDN 2/2025, SDN 2/2026 and SDN 6/2025. 70 Declaration on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, art. 12 (2). 71 A/HRC/WGEID/137/1, paras. 140 and 142. See also https://www.ohchr.org/en/pressreleases/2025/07/syria-un-experts-alarmed-targeted-abductions-and-disappearances-alawite. 72 See https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2025/08/syria-un-experts-alarmed-attacks-druzecommunities-including-sexual-violence. GE.26-10205 2024. The Working Group is concerned about reports that these attacks, allegedly aided by the interim authorities’ forces, have entrenched impunity and fear, are silencing victims’ families and are obstructing efforts to locate disappeared persons. It calls upon the interim authorities to ensure prompt, independent, impartial and thorough investigations, to prosecute perpetrators and to establish the fate and whereabouts of the disappeared persons. United Republic of Tanzania

71. A/HRC/WGEID/137/1, paras. 140 and 142. See also https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2025/07/syria-un-experts-alarmed-targeted-abductions-and-disappearances-alawite. ↩
72. See https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2025/08/syria-un-experts-alarmed-attacks-druze-communities-including-sexual-violence. ↩

The Working Group expresses serious concern at the allegations of enforced disappearance occurring within a broader pattern of repression of political opposition, protesters, civil society actors and human rights defenders in the United Republic of Tanzania, particularly in the lead-up to and immediate aftermath of the October 2025 general elections.⁷³ The Working Group is alarmed by reports that post-election violence in October and November 2025 led to the enforced disappearances of protesters and civil society actors, alongside the targeted use of excessive and lethal force by security forces, resulting in widespread allegations of extrajudicial killings and arbitrary detention.⁷⁴ These allegations, taken together, point to a deeply troubling situation in which enforced disappearance may have been used as a tool to silence dissent and instil fear. In this regard, the Working Group reiterates its findings on enforced disappearances and elections, including its finding that there is a correlation between the increase of reported cases of enforced disappearances during elections and the severe chilling effect on voters and the general sense of disempowerment among citizens.⁷⁵ The Working Group calls upon the Government to make public, without any further delay, the findings of the Independent Commission of Inquiry established in the United Republic of Tanzania on 18 November 2025, under the Commissions of Inquiry Act,⁷⁶ as a critical step towards ensuring victims’ rights to truth, justice and reparation and fostering accountability and reconciliation as a safeguard against recurrence.

73. TZA 4/2025; and A/HRC/WGEID/138/1, para. 153. ↩
74. TZA 6/2025. ↩
75. A/HRC/57/54/Add.4, para. 34. ↩
76. See reply to TZA 6/2025. ↩

During the reporting period, the Working Group observed a worrying trend on the part of the authorities of the United States of America involving the enforced disappearance of migrants and violations of the principle of non-refoulement, which prohibits the transfer of individuals to any country where they face a real risk of serious human rights violations, including enforced disappearance, without proper individualized assessments.⁷⁷ The Working Group expresses concern that some States are seemingly facilitating such transfers through agreements with the Government of the United States, as well as at the alleged responsibility and absence of due diligence of private military and security companies that have contracts related to detention facilities where migrants have been forcibly disappeared.⁷⁸

77. USA 42/2025 and USA 25/2025. ↩
78. A/HRC/WGEID/139/1, annex II. ↩

The Working Group recalls that all deportation and transfer procedures must comply with international human rights law, including the obligation to ensure effective access to legal – and, where appropriate, consular – assistance for individuals facing removal and that all such procedures should be subject to independent and effective judicial oversight. The Working Group further emphasizes that all persons deprived of their liberty must remain traceable throughout their custody, including during transfer and removal procedures, through accurate and up-to-date records of their whereabouts and legal status accessible to the competent authorities and their legal representatives and family members, and that strict 73 TZA 4/2025; and A/HRC/WGEID/138/1, para. 153. 74 TZA 6/2025. 75 A/HRC/57/54/Add.4, para. 34. 76 See reply to TZA 6/2025. 77 USA 42/2025 and USA 25/2025. 78 A/HRC/WGEID/139/1, annex II. GE.26-10205 supervision, including a clear chain of command, must be ensured of all law enforcement officials responsible for apprehensions, arrests, detentions, custody, transfers and imprisonment.⁷⁹ Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of)

79. Declaration on the Protection of all Persons from Enforced Disappearance, art. 12. ↩

The Working Group stresses that the only way in which to restore democracy in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela is to respect the will of the country’s people.⁸⁰ The Working Group continues to express concern that human rights defenders, political opponents and those perceived as such continue to be forcibly disappeared.⁸¹ Furthermore, it expresses alarm at public statements by a senior official of the executive branch against several non-governmental organizations, which appear aimed at discrediting their work and members.⁸² The Working Group continues its efforts to engage in a constructive dialogue with the Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and regrets that these attempts have so far been unsuccessful. It stresses that dialogue is essential to preventing enforced disappearance and ensuring effective remedies and reparation for the victims documented under the Working Group’s humanitarian mandate.

80. See https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2026/01/international-human-rights-law-must-guide-any-future-transition-venezuela. ↩
81. VEN 4/2025. ↩
82. VEN 2/2025. ↩

The Working Group is alarmed over regressive measures with regard to truth, justice and memorialization processes in the Americas, particularly in Argentina, Chile and Peru. These include reduction of financial support for entities working on memorialization,⁸³ regressive legislation on amnesties or pardons for crimes against humanity and statutes of limitations,⁸⁴ including the release of former military officers convicted of offences in the context of crimes against humanity,⁸⁵ and the reduction of specialized teams and mechanisms on the basis of alleged improvements in the use of public resources.⁸⁶ The Working Group is extremely concerned that these measures inevitably undermine decades of efforts towards accountability for gross human rights violations and to preserve the memory of victims. The Working Group emphasizes that States have an ongoing obligation to guarantee truth, justice, reparation and non-recurrence and recalls that measures that weaken accountability or memorialization processes risk eroding public trust, hindering the rights of victims and their relatives and contributing to the recurrence of serious human rights violations.⁸⁷ The Working Group calls upon all States to halt and reverse measures that weaken truth, justice, remembrance and memorialization processes.

83. ARG 6/2025. ↩
84. See https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2025/08/perus-amnesty-law-breaches-international-human-rights-obligations-un-experts. ↩
85. See https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2026/03/peru-un-experts-concerned-release-former-military-officer-convicted-murder. ↩
86. See https://www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/documents/issues/disappearances/20260416-technical-advice-wg-to-chile-es.pdf (in Spanish). ↩
87. Ibid. ↩

The Working Group is extremely concerned at the alleged transnational repression and enforced disappearance of Burundian refugees abducted from refugee camps in the 79 Declaration on the Protection of all Persons from Enforced Disappearance, art. 12. 80 See https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2026/01/international-human-rights-law-must-guideany-future-transition-venezuela. 81 VEN 4/2025. 82 VEN 2/2025. 83 ARG 6/2025. 84 See https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2025/08/perus-amnesty-law-breaches-internationalhuman-rights-obligations-un-experts. 85 See https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2026/03/peru-un-experts-concerned-release-formermilitary-officer-convicted-murder. 86 See https://www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/documents/issues/disappearances/20260416-technicaladvice-wg-to-chile-es.pdf (in Spanish). 87 Ibid. GE.26-10205 United Republic of Tanzania⁸⁸ and at alleged enforced disappearances originating in Kenya, with subsequent transnational transfers to other States, namely, Rwanda, Nigeria, Türkiye, South Sudan and Uganda, carried out in the absence of legal safeguards, judicial oversight and due process guarantees.⁸⁹

88. TZA 1/2025; and A/HRC/WGEID/138/1, para. 151. ↩
89. A/HRC/WGEID/138/1, annex II. ↩

The Working Group also raises concern about the surge in human rights violations of a transnational nature in the Greater Mekong subregion.⁹⁰ The Working Group also reiterates concerns over enforced disappearances of nationals of China in South-East Asia, including the forced return of Uighur refugees from Thailand, in violation of the customary law principle of non-refoulement. The Working Group expresses alarm at the continued lack of information on their fate, whereabouts and well-being.⁹¹

90. OTH 84/2025, CHN 9/2025, LAO 2/2025, MYS 3/2025, VNM 3/2025 and THA 8/2025. ↩
91. See https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2026/02/chinas-silence-deepens-fears-over-disappeared-uyghur-returnees-year-warn-un. ↩

The Working Group expresses its concern at practices involving the enforced disappearance and arbitrary detention of human rights defenders, including relatives of disappeared persons, in Algeria,⁹² El Salvador,⁹³ Nicaragua⁹⁴ and Uganda,⁹⁵ which appear to be used as a strategy to spread terror, create a chilling effect in society and deter individuals from taking action to protect the public interest.

92. DZA 2/2026. ↩
93. See https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2025/05/el-salvador-un-experts-demand-protection-ruth-lopez-after-enforced. ↩
94. See https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2025/10/nicaragua-un-experts-say-continuing-repression-population-through-enforced. ↩
95. UGA 6/2025; and https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2026/01/uganda-un-experts-urge-stronger-human-rights-safeguards-ahead-2026-elections. ↩

Enforced disappearances continue to be reported to the Working Group, as reflected in the high volume of cases documented during the reporting period, including cases in the context of armed conflict, some of which may amount to crimes against humanity. The Working Group also notes with serious concern the growing number of cases linked to the application of national security legislation and counter-terrorism measures, as well as the use of enforced disappearances in the context of increased militarization to curb dissent. Furthermore, during the reporting period, there was a marked increase in cases involving foreign nationals, including in the context of deportations, transfers to third countries and acts of transnational repression. The Working Group urges the States concerned to adopt, as a matter of priority, comprehensive measures to address the root causes of enforced disappearances, to undertake effective search activities when allegations are reported, to ensure prompt, independent, impartial and thorough investigations and to hold perpetrators accountable.

The Working Group continues to address non-State actors in relation to acts tantamount to enforced disappearance and, during the reporting period, entered into a formal coordination agreement with the Committee on Enforced Disappearances with regard to cases that include allegations of the involvement of a non-State actor. The agreement ensures that relatives can be supported in establishing the fate and whereabouts of their loved ones, both when the State is allegedly responsible and when a non-State actor may be involved. In this regard, the Working Group thanks the 88 TZA 1/2025; and A/HRC/WGEID/138/1, para. 151. 89 A/HRC/WGEID/138/1, annex II. 90 OTH 84/2025, CHN 9/2025, LAO 2/2025, MYS 3/2025, VNM 3/2025 and THA 8/2025. 91 See https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2026/02/chinas-silence-deepens-fears-over-disappeareduyghur-returnees-year-warn-un. 92 DZA 2/2026. 93 See https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2025/05/el-salvador-un-experts-demand-protection-ruthlopez-after-enforced. 94 See https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2025/10/nicaragua-un-experts-say-continuingrepression-population-through-enforced. 95 UGA 6/2025; and https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2026/01/uganda-un-experts-urge-strongerhuman-rights-safeguards-ahead-2026-elections. GE.26-10205 Committee for its continued openness and commitment to exploring deeper coordination and mutual reinforcement to maximize their collective impact on the realization of human rights.

The Working Group regrets that many victims continue to face both legal and structural obstacles during the search for their disappeared loved ones. The human rights defenders and lawyers who assist them are also affected by reprisals, intimidation and harassment. Moreover, efforts to report cases are frequently ignored or delayed, or the reports deemed untruthful or left unanswered, while deficiencies in national search mechanisms create mistrust and significant barriers at every stage of the truth-seeking process. The Working Group calls upon States to establish safe, inclusive and enabling environments, free from intimidation and reprisals, to allow victims to pursue their right to truth, justice and reparation.

As regards cases of alleged enforced disappearance originating in one country and involving subsequent transnational transfers to third countries and repatriations or involuntary returns on national security grounds, the Working Group recalls the non-refoulement obligations of the host State, including as enshrined in article 8 of the Declaration on the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance and article 16 of the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance. The Working Group reiterates that, regardless of how the transfer or return is characterized, the State practice of depriving an individual of liberty and refusing to acknowledge it or to disclose the individual’s fate or whereabouts, for whatever purpose or duration and in whatever context, constitutes an enforced disappearance, in violation of jus cogens norms.

In implementation of its mandate, the Working Group transmits a range of communications and requests to the States concerned, seeking comments and information on allegations of enforced disappearances, as well as on the implementation of their obligations under the Declaration on the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance. The Working Group notes with concern the increased tendency of States not to respond to such communications. In some instances, responses have been withheld on the grounds of national privacy legislation, preventing the provision of information requested by the Working Group within its confidential humanitarian capacity. This noticeable lack of cooperation contributes to a persistent accountability gap and undermines the effectiveness of the Working Group’s mandate. The Working Group therefore calls upon States to engage in a timely, substantive and constructive manner, to ensure full cooperation and to uphold their international obligations.

Lastly, the Working Group notes the ongoing efforts within the Human Rights Council and the General Assembly to institute reform and rationalization within the special procedures. The Working Group wishes to emphasize that, since its establishment in 1980, its mandate has remained relevant, and its work has not only expanded but also, importantly, remains at its core aimed at serving as a channel of communication between families and the Governments concerned, through country visits, advocacy, capacity-building and technical cooperation, early warning and public reporting. In many countries, the Working Group’s humanitarian procedure is the only international mechanism that provides support to individuals and aids in the search for their disappeared loved ones. GE.26-10205 Annex I Country visit requests and invitations extended Invitations extended to the WGEID in the last five years Country Date Bangladesh Accepted on 6 January 2025, visit dates TBD Canada Accepted on 24 October 2024, visit dates TBD Republic of Korea Accepted on 10 September 2024, visit postponed, visit dates TBD Maldives Accepted on 9 May 2024, visit dates TBD Invitations extended to the WGEID over five years Country Date Kenya First half 2021 (did not take place) Ghana Last quarter of 2021 (dates to be agreed) Mali 26 August – 3 September 2019 (did not take place) Sudan 20 to 29 November 2017 (did not take place) South Sudan Last quarter of 2016 (did not take place) Algeria Second half 2014 (did not take place) Libya First Quarter of 2013, (postponed due to security reasons) Visits requested by the WGEID Country Request sent Last reminder sent Afghanistan 17 April 2019 24 April 2020 Algeria 25 August 2000 24 November 2023 Angola 23 May 2023 25 February 2025 Bangladesh 12 March 2013 8 May 2026 Belarus 30 June 2011 29 April 2025 Brazil 8 April 2020 24 May 2023 Cameroon 12 April 2019 28 February 2024 Canada 20 February 2024 - Cuba 24 November 2023 26 February 2025 China 19 February 2013 26 February 2025 Colombia 22 October 2020 - Democratic Republic of the Congo 17 May 2017 25 February 2025 Ecuador 24 November 2023 - El Salvador 6 October 2017 25 February 2025 GE.26-10205 Visits requested by the WGEID Country Request sent Last reminder sent India 16 August 2010 26 February 2020 Indonesia 12 December 2006 26 February 2025 Iran 18 January 2019 26 February 2025 Israel 29 April 2025 - Lao PDR 6 May 2020 25 May 2023 Lebanon 27 November 2015 7 January 2022 Nepal 12 May 2006 8 May 2026 Nicaragua 23 May 2006 26 February 2025 Nigeria 23 January 2019 28 January 2024 Malaysia 24 November 2023 - Pakistan 14 November 2019 26 February 2025 Philippines 3 April 2013 25 May 2023 Russian Federation 2 November 2006 22 August 2024 Rwanda 27 October 2014 8 April 2020 Saudi Arabia 24 November 2023 - South Africa 28 October 2014 24 November 2023 Sudan 20 December 2005 8 April 2020 Thailand 30 June 2011 24 November 2023 United Arab Emirates 13 September 2013 7 January 2022 United States of America 24 November 2023 - Venezuela 28 November 2019 26 February 2025 Zimbabwe 20 July 2009 26 February 2025 GE.26-10205 Annex II Statistical summary: cases of enforced disappearance reported to the Working Group between 1980 and 8 May 2026, and general allegations transmitted States/entities Cases transmitted to the Government Cases clarified by: Status of person at date of clarification Discontinued cases Closed cases General Allegation Outstanding cases Total Government Sources At liberty In detention Dead GA sent Response Cases Female Cases Female Afghanistan Albania Algeria 3 384 3 419 2013/2018/2020/2023 Yes (2013); No (2018, 2020, 2023) Angola Armenia Argentina Azerbaijan Bahrain 2014/2018 Yes (2014, 2018) Bangladesh 2011/2017/2019 No (2011, 2017, 2019) Belarus⁹⁶ No (2024) Bhutan Bolivia (Plurinational State of) Bosnia and Herzegovina 2009/2011/2014 Yes (2009, 2011, 2014) Brazil 2019/2022/2024 No (2019, 2022); Yes (2024) Bulgaria No (2025) 1 At its 132nd session, the Working Group decided to reopen one case, which had been closed based on information provided by the Government (A/HRC/WGEID/132/1, para. 27). GE.26-10205 States/entities Cases transmitted to the Government Cases clarified by: Status of person at date of clarification Discontinued cases Closed cases General Allegation Outstanding cases Total Government Sources At liberty In detention Dead GA sent Response Cases Female Cases Female Burkina Faso Burundi No (2018) Cambodia Cameroon No (2016) Central African Republic No (2013) Chad Chile China 2010/2011/2018/2019/20 No (2010, 2011, 2018, 2019, 2024) Colombia 1 289 2012/2013/2015/2016/20 17/ 2020/2021 No (2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2020) Yes (2021) Comoros Congo Cuba Cyprus Czechia Yes (2009) Democratic People’s Republic of Korea Democratic Republic of the Congo 2015/2019 Yes (2015); No (2019) Denmark No (2009) Djibouti Dominican Republic GE.26-10205 States/entities Cases transmitted to the Government Cases clarified by: Status of person at date of clarification Discontinued cases Closed cases General Allegation Outstanding cases Total Government Sources At liberty In detention Dead GA sent Response Cases Female Cases Female Ecuador Yes (2024) Egypt 2011/2016/2017/2023 No (2011, 2016, 2017, 2023) El Salvador 2 299 2 840 Mar and May 2015/2022 No (2015, 2022) Equatorial Guinea Eritrea 2012/2017 No (2012, 2017) Ethiopia France Gambia Georgia Greece Guatemala 2 897 3 154 2011/2013/2022 Yes (2011, 2013, 2022) Guinea Guinea Bissau Guyana Haiti Honduras 2021/2022 Yes (2021), No (2022) India 2009/2011/2013/2019/ No (2009, 2011, 2013, 2019, 2026) Indonesia 2011/2013/2017/2026 No (2011, 2013, 2017, 2026) Iran (Islamic Republic of Iran) No (2017) Iraq 16 429 2 300 16 577 2 317 2020/2024 No (2020, 2024) Ireland No (2009) Israel No (2025) Jordan GE.26-10205 States/entities Cases transmitted to the Government Cases clarified by: Status of person at date of clarification Discontinued cases Closed cases General Allegation Outstanding cases Total Government Sources At liberty In detention Dead GA sent Response Cases Female Cases Female Kazakhstan Kenya 2011/2014/2016/2017/ 2025/2026 No (2011, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2025, 2026) Kuwait Lao People’s Democratic Republic Latvia Lebanon No (2025) Libya 2014/2018/2024 No (2014, 2018, 2024) Lithuania Yes (2012) Malaysia Maldives Mauritania Mexico 2013/2014/Apr, Jun and Sept 2017/ 2022/2023 Yes (2022, 2023); No (2013, 2014, 2017) Montenegro Morocco 2013/2020/2023 No (2013, 2020); Yes (2023) Mozambique Myanmar No (2017) Namibia Nepal Yes (2021) Nicaragua 2022/2024 No (2022, 2024) Nigeria No (2020) North Macedonia No (2009) Oman GE.26-10205 States/entities Cases transmitted to the Government Cases clarified by: Status of person at date of clarification Discontinued cases Closed cases General Allegation Outstanding cases Total Government Sources At liberty In detention Dead GA sent Response Cases Female Cases Female Pakistan 1 071 1 841 2015/2017/2019/2023/ No (2015, 2017, 2023, 2025); Yes (2019) Panama Paraguay Yes (2014) Peru 2 361 3 003 Philippines 2009/2012/2026 No (2009, 2012, 2026) Qatar Romania Republic of Korea Russian Federation⁹⁷ 3 237 3 567 2016/2018/2022/2024 Yes (2016); No (2018, 2022 and 2024) Rwanda Saudi Arabia Yes (2020) Serbia Seychelles Somalia South Africa South Sudan Spain 2014/ 2023 No (2014); Yes (2023) Sri Lanka 6 306 200 12 897 6 551 6 446 2011/2014/2022 Yes (2011, 2014, 2022) Sudan 2022/2025 No (2022, 2025) Switzerland Syrian Arab Republic 1 135 1 200 Mar and Jul 2011/2019/2021/2023 Yes (2011); No (2019, 2021, 2023) Tajikistan 2 During its 136th session, the Working Group considered a case duplicated. GE.26-10205 States/entities Cases transmitted to the Government Cases clarified by: Status of person at date of clarification Discontinued cases Closed cases General Allegation Outstanding cases Total Government Sources At liberty In detention Dead GA sent Response Cases Female Cases Female Thailand 2008/2018 No (2008, 2018) Timor-Leste No (2025) Togo Tunisia No (2025) Türkiye No (2022) Turkmenistan No (2018) Uganda Ukraine United Arab Emirates No (2022) United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland No (2025) United Republic of Tanzania No (2025) United States of America 2019/2024/2026 Yes (2019, 2024) Uruguay 2013/2015/2018 Yes (2013); No (2015, 2018) Uzbekistan Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) 2019/2024 No (2019, 2024) Viet Nam Yemen No (2023) Zambia Zimbabwe No (2009) State of Palestine GE.26-10205 Annex III Graphs showing the number of cases of enforced disappearance by country and by year according to the cases transmitted by the Working Group between 1980 and 8 May 2026 (only for countries with more than 100 cases transmitted)¹ * Argentina ratified the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance in 2007. * Chile ratified the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance in 2009. 1 Due to the wide variation in the underlying data, the charts are displayed using a logarithmic scale to provide a clearer representation of statistical trends and distributions. ALGERIA ARGENTINA* CHILE* GE.26-10205 * Colombia ratified the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance in 2012. CHINA COLOMBIA* DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF KOREA EGYPT GE.26-10205 * Honduras ratified the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance in 2008. EL SALVADOR ETHIOPIA GUATEMALA HONDURAS* GE.26-10205 * Iraq ratified the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance in 2010. INDIA INDONESIA ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN IRAQ* GE.26-10205 * Mexico ratified the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance in 2008. ISRAEL LEBANON MEXICO* GE.26-10205 * Morocco ratified the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance in 2013. MOROCCO* NEPAL NICARAGUA PAKISTAN GE.26-10205 * Peru ratified the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance in 2012. PERU* PHILIPPINES 1,892 1,000 10,000 RUSSIAN FEDERATION GE.26-10205 * Sri Lanka ratified the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance in 2016. * Sudan ratified the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance in 2021. SRI LANKA* SUDAN* SYRIAN ARAB REPUBLIC GE.26-10205 TIMOR LESTE TÜRKIYE YEMEN

96. At its 132nd session, the Working Group decided to reopen one case, which had been closed based on information provided by the Government (A/HRC/WGEID/132/1, para. 27). ↩
97. During its 136th session, the Working Group considered a case duplicated. ↩
1. Due to the wide variation in the underlying data, the charts are displayed using a logarithmic scale to provide a clearer representation of statistical trends and distributions. ↩