On December 23, 2010, the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance will enter into force. Lebanon has not ratified this Convention which the country signed in 2007.
"Since the early 80’s, victims and associations have been struggling to create an international legal instrument to prevent enforced disappearances," CLDH's Wadih el Asmar said in a communiqué issued on December 23. Adopted in 2006 by the United Nations General Assembly and opened for signature in 2007, the Convention is therefore considered an important victory for the relatives of the disappeared persons and the Human Rights NGOs supporting them. "This convention will partly enter into force thanks to the ratification of the Iraqi Government on November 23," Wadih el Asmar stated.
The Convention grants several rights to the victims of enforced disappearances as it guarantees the right for a person not to be subjected to enforced disappearance and the right for the families of disappeared persons to know the truth. It also constitutes a step forward in the fight against impunity. In addition, the text stipulates requirements for the states, which include, among others, the international cooperation. The Convention also stipulates the sanctions to which the states involved in enforced disappearances shall be exposed. Finally, the text states the establishment of an International Committee against Enforced Disappearances, which monitors the implementation of the Convention and protect against enforced disappearances on an international level.
Lebanon signed this Convention in February 2007 in Paris, and the current government has considered its ratification as an important objective by including it in its Ministerial Declaration. However, Lebanon hasn't ratifies this Convention yet, despite numerous calls of victims and NGOs. Lebanon is directly affected by the enforced disappearances, as 17,000 Lebanese persons are still missing to date. "Relatives of the disappeared persons have been waiting for too long for their state to take serious actions instead of making promises. We question the reasons which prevent this ratification and, we find it hard to believe that this is the result of mere negligence !!!" W. el Asmar said. "For the thousands of relatives of the disappeared persons waiting for the truth, this Convention is a message of hope," he added. "It is therefore necessary and urgent for Lebanon to ratify the text and be strictly committed to fight against practices of enforced disappearances."
"This ratification will send a powerful message of hope to the Lebanese people and enhance the transferability of the Lebanese state not only vis-a-vis its citizens but also vis-a-vis the International Community," CLDH concludes, while urging the government to ratify the Convention:
"We, the families of the disappeared persons and organizations working in this field, urge the President of the Republic, the Speaker of Parliament and the Prime Minister to respect the Ministerial Declaration and ratify the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance as soon as possible.
"In this international framework, we call on the urgent applications judge of Beirut to continue his courageous decisions with regard to the two complaints concerning the "Mar Mitr" and "Herech Beirut" mass graves, and encourage him to continue these steps in order to confirm the right to know.
Similarly, we call on the Criminal Court of South Lebanon [Saida] to deal without delay with the case of the disappearance of Mr. Hachichou, this complaint has been ongoing for over 10 years.
Signatories : SOLIDE (Soutien aux libanais en détention et en exil)
Comité des parents des kidnappés et des disparus au Liban
CLDH (Centre libanais des droits humains)
ACT for the disappeared
Association libanaise des droits de l’Homme
Rassemblement Wahdatouna Khalasouna (rassemblement de 26 ONG libanaises)
The Convention grants several rights to the victims of enforced disappearances as it guarantees the right for a person not to be subjected to enforced disappearance and the right for the families of disappeared persons to know the truth. It also constitutes a step forward in the fight against impunity. In addition, the text stipulates requirements for the states, which include, among others, the international cooperation. The Convention also stipulates the sanctions to which the states involved in enforced disappearances shall be exposed. Finally, the text states the establishment of an International Committee against Enforced Disappearances, which monitors the implementation of the Convention and protect against enforced disappearances on an international level.
Lebanon signed this Convention in February 2007 in Paris, and the current government has considered its ratification as an important objective by including it in its Ministerial Declaration. However, Lebanon hasn't ratifies this Convention yet, despite numerous calls of victims and NGOs. Lebanon is directly affected by the enforced disappearances, as 17,000 Lebanese persons are still missing to date. "Relatives of the disappeared persons have been waiting for too long for their state to take serious actions instead of making promises. We question the reasons which prevent this ratification and, we find it hard to believe that this is the result of mere negligence !!!" W. el Asmar said. "For the thousands of relatives of the disappeared persons waiting for the truth, this Convention is a message of hope," he added. "It is therefore necessary and urgent for Lebanon to ratify the text and be strictly committed to fight against practices of enforced disappearances."
"This ratification will send a powerful message of hope to the Lebanese people and enhance the transferability of the Lebanese state not only vis-a-vis its citizens but also vis-a-vis the International Community," CLDH concludes, while urging the government to ratify the Convention:
"We, the families of the disappeared persons and organizations working in this field, urge the President of the Republic, the Speaker of Parliament and the Prime Minister to respect the Ministerial Declaration and ratify the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance as soon as possible.
"In this international framework, we call on the urgent applications judge of Beirut to continue his courageous decisions with regard to the two complaints concerning the "Mar Mitr" and "Herech Beirut" mass graves, and encourage him to continue these steps in order to confirm the right to know.
Similarly, we call on the Criminal Court of South Lebanon [Saida] to deal without delay with the case of the disappearance of Mr. Hachichou, this complaint has been ongoing for over 10 years.
Signatories : SOLIDE (Soutien aux libanais en détention et en exil)
Comité des parents des kidnappés et des disparus au Liban
CLDH (Centre libanais des droits humains)
ACT for the disappeared
Association libanaise des droits de l’Homme
Rassemblement Wahdatouna Khalasouna (rassemblement de 26 ONG libanaises)
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