Today (24 September), State Secretary Reinhard Silberberg deposited Germany’s instrument of ratification for the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance. Germany is the 14th state to accede to the Convention. The Convention, adopted by the General Assembly in 2006, will enter into force as soon as 20 UN member states have ratified it.

The international community has succeeded in drawing up a universally valid and legally binding convention which prohibits enforced disappearances. Among other things, the Convention places States parties under an obligation to investigate disappearances, grants relatives the right to have access to information and improves the situation of victims by creating a legal framework for reparation and compensation. It also contains provisions on monitoring and complaint procedures. A Committee on Enforced Disappearances consisting of ten independent experts will be established to deal with complaints.