30 August, the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearance, should not be the only day when we remember the victims and reflect on the harsh reality that thousands of families of victims are faced with, waiting and hoping to find out the truth about their loved ones. Regrettably, on-going conflicts in Europe increase the numbers of victims. Enforced disappearance is a crime under international law and a violation of multiple human rights that all states are obl...iged to redress.
I urge all European states to become parties to the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance (http://www.ohchr.org/…/HRBodies/CED/Pages/ConventionCED.aspx) and effectively act upon all cases of missing persons and victims of enforced disappearance, given that they raise very serious humanitarian and human rights issues. The passage of time makes finding and identifying remains harder and increases the agony and suffering of the families. It is therefore high time for all states in Europe to establish the truth and provide prompt and adequate redress to all persons concerned.