Visit of the UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances

(2012-09-07)

On the invitation of the Government of Pakistan, a two member team of the UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances would be visiting Pakistan from 10-20 September 2012. The team would also visit all the Provincial Headquarters to meet political leaders, government officials, civil society organizations and human rights activists.

The UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances is a subsidiary mechanism of the Human Rights Council with a humanitarian mandate. It is neither a fact-finding nor an investigative mission. The primary mandate of the Working Group is to promote communication between families of disappeared persons and the concerned governments to ascertain whereabouts of disappeared persons whose cases are referred to the Working Group.

Earlier in June this year, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Ms. Navenethem Pillay visited Pakistan. She had detailed discussion with Foreign Minister Ms. Hina Rabbani Khar and interacted with human rights activists and civil society organizations. It was preceded by the Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers Ms. Gabriela Knaul’s visit in May 2012.

The Government of Pakistan has taken a number of steps to address the issue of Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances in the country. The visit of the UN working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances would provide an opportunity to highlight the efforts being undertaken by the Government to address this important issue and to further improve the relevant procedures.

The visits by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council including the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances are part of Pakistan’s ongoing engagement and cooperation with the UN Human Rights Procedures and mechanisms. They demonstrate Pakistan’s commitment, as a vibrant democracy with free media and robust civil society, to the promotion and protection of human rights in country.

The visit of the UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances will be followed by the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression later this year on the invitation of Government of Pakistan.

Islamabad
07 September 2012

0197/201