New York: Europe and the Arabs
"The pain of not knowing the fate of loved ones is one of the worst things that can happen to anyone. It never goes away, no matter how much time passes." This is what Volker Türk, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, said, calling for urgent international action to address the crisis of missing persons. According to the UN Daily News Bulletin, a copy of which we received Thursday morning.
She added, "This came during a meeting held by the United Nations General Assembly yesterday, Wednesday, on missing persons, during which Volker Türk briefed member states on the Secretary-General's 2024 report on this issue.
Türk warned that the loss of a loved one leaves families and communities in a state of despair and profound loss. He added, "The pain of not knowing the fate of loved ones is one of the worst things that can happen to anyone. It never goes away, no matter how much time passes." Without knowing the truth about the whereabouts of a loved one, and without justice, cycles of harm continue to play out for generations.
Highest number in 20 years
The High Commissioner noted that the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) recorded 56,559 new cases of missing persons in 2024, the highest number in at least 20 years, as a result of large-scale conflicts and disregard for international humanitarian law.
He explained that people missing in wars are subjected to killing, torture, ill-treatment, abduction, and arbitrary detention, and may also disappear while fleeing fighting.
Türk emphasized the need to hold those responsible for violations of international humanitarian law accountable, noting that impunity encourages further violations. He also noted that people also disappear outside of war, as a result of government repression, including in the context of counter-terrorism measures, or during migration and human trafficking.
The High Commissioner called on states to address this scourge, noting that the number of missing persons ranges from tens of thousands in some countries to more than 100,000 in others. The UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances has dealt with more than 62,000 cases of enforced disappearance in 115 countries over a period of 45 years.
Syria
The High Commissioner for Human Rights addressed his visit to Damascus earlier this year, noting that he met with former prisoners of the "notorious" Saydnaya prison and their families. He added, "I was deeply moved by their accounts, and also by my ability now, after the fall of the former regime, to speak out about what happened to them."
He also referred to the UN General Assembly's 2023 resolution establishing the Independent Foundation for Missing Persons in Syria, which he said was established to clarify the fate and whereabouts of all missing persons in Syria and to support victims, survivors, and families of the missing. He explained that the head of the foundation visited Damascus for the first time last February and met with dozens of families of the missing. Three Areas for Action
Türk outlined three areas where lasting impact can be achieved for victims:
First, strengthening and implementing the human rights framework: He called on States to ratify the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance, incorporate it into their national laws, and implement it effectively.
Second, achieving justice and accountability: He called for urgent efforts to achieve justice for victims and combat impunity, emphasizing the need to know the truth about the fate of missing persons.
Third, putting victims at the center of efforts: He called for listening to and learning from victims, noting that women and children are disproportionately affected by the issue of missing persons.
The High Commissioner concluded his remarks by affirming his Office's commitment to supporting victims and working with States to fulfill their human rights obligations, calling for concerted efforts to achieve justice and redress for victims everywhere.
Strengthening Cooperation and Accountability on the Issue of Missing Persons
The President of the United Nations General Assembly, Mr. Philomon Yang, said that the increasing number of missing persons due to armed conflict, human rights violations, and humanitarian crises calls for decisive steps to alleviate the hardship. He said that the General Assembly, over the past 20 years, has played an important role in addressing the issue of missing persons in connection with armed conflict, including through its biennial resolutions. He called on Member States to strengthen their legal frameworks to prevent disappearances, determine the fate of missing persons, manage information, and support the families of victims. He added, "We must bear in mind that addressing the crisis of missing persons is not a humanitarian imperative, but rather our collective moral duty. With determination and solidarity, we must transform grief into justice, and uncertainty into hope."