« Convention Now ! »

07/02/2007
Press release
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Call of the International Coalition
for the International Convention Against Enforced Disappearances

The International Coalition, gathering the families of the disappeared and human rights NGOs, welcomes the signature by 57 [1] States of the new International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearances adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations on December 20th, 2006, during the ceremony held yesterday at the French foreign Ministry .

This step is of particular significance as the 57 signatory States are representing all regions of the world.

The ratification process is from now on open for these States, whom the Coalition solemnly call on to ratify the Convention as soon as possible, allowing for its entry into vigour as soon as possible. The Coalition calls on all other States to sign and ratify the Convention without much delay.

The Coalition underlines that the States shall take all necessary measures to prevent the practice of enforced disappearances and repress the authors of this crime. In this regard, the Convention represents the first legally binding instrument able to assist States in the implementation of a more effective protection from enforced disappearances.

In the coming weeks, the Coalition will develop and publish its action plan « Convention, Now! »

States of the new International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearances adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations on December 20th, 2006, during the ceremony held yesterday at the French foreign Ministry .

International Coalition members :

ASOFAMD and FEDEFAM, Bolivia
Madres de Plaza de Mayo, Argentina
FEDEFAM, Argentina
Kontras, Indonesia
Asian Federation Against Disappearances
HOM/Linking Solidarity
FEDEFAM, Geneva
International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH)
Ligue des droits de l’Homme et du citoyen (LDH), France
International Commission of Jurists (ICJ)

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