Event information

15-16 January 2025

Downloads

Press Release >

World Congress on Enforced Disappearances

Event

The Geneva Human Rights Platform is a partner in the first edition of this congress following the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance that will take place in Geneva on the 15-16 January. 

Time for Collective Action

Enforced disappearance remains widespread across the world, with devastating repercussions on entire societies. Following decades of mobilization to prevent and eliminate this heinous human rights violation, the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance (the Convention) was adopted in 2006, thanks to the tireless efforts of states, associations of victims, human rights NGOs, and experts.

Over the past 15 years, the number of states parties to the Convention has increased from 20 to 76. However, universal ratification and implementation remain far from achieved, and enforced disappearance continues to persist.

It is time to join forces and intensify efforts in the global fight against enforced disappearance.

Objectives

Nearly 20 years after the adoption of the Convention, the World Congress aims to create an opportunity for concrete and ambitious commitments to eradicate enforced disappearance everywhere in the world, putting victims’ voices and rights at the core of the strategy. The World Congress aims to:

  • Raise awareness of what enforced disappearance is, its extent, and its impact worldwide.
  • Place families and civil society back at the center of joint efforts.
  • Promote intergovernmental dialogue, exchanges of experiences, and good practices.
  • Present an action plan for the protection of all persons from enforced disappearance and encourage concerned actors to submit pledges.
  • Initiate a process of direct cooperation and coordination between various actors.

Expected Results

  • The international community is further mobilized to protect all persons from enforced disappearance.
  • Actors engaged in the global fight against enforced disappearance submit pledges related to the proposed action plan.
  • All concerned actors are better connected to foster synergies against enforced disappearance.

Lasting Positive Impact

The multi-actor dialogue and exchange process initiated with the World Congress aims to achieve a lasting positive impact on the protection of all persons from enforced disappearance. Follow-up activities may include:

  • Enhanced technical assistance to states and CSOs on ratification and implementation of the Convention.
  • Organization of events to address issues of common interest related to the fight against enforced disappearances.
  • Strengthened capacity-building to ensure participation of families and victims’ associations in relevant international and national processes (e.g., submission of reports, participation in ratification campaigns, drafting legislation, strengthening search mechanisms and forensic processes).


Climate Justice Screening logos

 

 

MORE ON THIS THEMATIC AREA

News

New Working Paper Explores AI for Human Rights and SDG Monitoring

30 January 2025

A new working paper, 'AI Decoded: Key Concepts and Applications of Artificial Intelligence for Human Rights and SDG Monitoring', has been published by the Geneva Human Rights Platform.

Read more

GHRP in Davos News

AI and Human Rights in the Intelligent Age: GHRP in Davos

3 February 2025

The Geneva Human Rights Platform contributed to key discussions on AI, human rights, and sustainable digital governance at the World Economic Forum 2025.

Read more

AI for Good Event Event

AI for human rights: Smarter, faster, fairer monitoring

8 July 2025, 14:00-16:00

The event, as part of the AI for Good Summit 2025 will explore how AI tools can support faster data analysis, help uncover patterns in large datasets, and expand the reach of human rights work.

Read more

United Nations Geneva Event

‘Urgency Measures’ to face a triple crisis – what insights can be taken from the Treaty Body strengthening process?

4 June 2025, 13:30-15:00

This side event represents a critical opportunity to reflect on the innovative approaches taken through the treaty body strengthening process and to consider the future direction of the treaty body system.

Read more

Universal Declaration of Human Rights Booklet Training

The International Human Rights Standards and System: Monitoring and Implementation Strategies at the National Level

7-11 July 2025

This training course will delve into the means and mechanisms through which national actors can best coordinate their human rights monitoring and implementation efforts, enabling them to strategically navigate the UN human rights system and use the various mechanisms available in their day-to-day work.

Read more

Town Hall Meeting Training

Localizing International Human Rights

8-10 October 2025

This training course, specifically designed for staff of city and regional governments, will explore the means and mechanisms through which local and regional governments can interact with and integrate the recommendations of international human rights bodies in their concrete work at the local level.

Read more

First annual conference of the Geneva Human Rights Platform Project

The Annual Conference of the Geneva Human Rights Platform

Started in June 2019

Read more

Project

The Lake Room Initiative (Space for Dialogue)

Started in February 2024

Read more

Cover page of the working paper Publication

AI Decoded: Key Concepts and Applications of Artificial Intelligence for Human Rights and SDG Monitoring

published on January 2025

Milica Mirkovic, Jennifer Victoria Scurrell

Read more

Cover Page of Research Brief Publication

United Nations Treaty Body Individual Communications Procedures: What Is at Stake in the Strengthening Process?

published on October 2024

Claire Callejon

Read more