Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances

How to report a case of disappearance

Although it is important to provide as much detail as possible, the lack of a comprehensive account should not necessarily preclude the submission of a report. However, the WGEID can only deal with clearly identified individual cases containing the following minimum elements of information contained in the sample form below:

1. Identity of the disappeared person;

2. Date on which the disappearance occurred (at least as to the month and year);

3. Place of arrest or abduction, or where the disappeared person was last seen;

4. Forces (State or State-supported) believed to be responsible for the disappearance;

5. Action taken by the relatives or others to locate the person (inquiries with police, jail, human rights commission, habeas corpus petition etc.). If action was not possible, please explain why;

6. Identity of the person or organization submitting the report (name and address) and whether this information should be kept confidential.

Additional sheets should be attached where space does not allow for a full rendering of the information requested. Also, documents and annexes such as habeas corpus petitions or statements of witnesses, or photographs of the missing person can be sent attached to the report. Please send only copies of documents, the originals should remain in your files.

Important : If any subsequent relevant information becomes available, or if the address of the person submitting the report has changed, the Working Group should be informed as soon as possible.

Form to Submit a Communication on a Victim of an Enforced or Involuntary Disappearance

Exemple de formulaire de communication de renseignements concernant une victime de disparition forcée ou involontaire

Formulario para enviar información sobre la Desaparición Forzada o Involuntaria de una persona

Information on the enforced disappearance of a person should be transmitted to the secretariat of the Working Group on Enforced and Involuntary Disappearances (WGEID) in written form and sent to:

Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances

c/o OHCHR-UNOG

CH-1211 Geneva 10

Switzerland