The UN Working Group on Enforced and Involuntary Disappearances, presenting its report to the UN Human Rights Council at the Council's 27th session in Geneva currently underway, condemned the ongoing use of enforced disappearances by states.

"Forced disappearances is not just a crime of the past, it is still being used in conflict situations, where there is internal instability, or in order to fight terrorism and organised crime. Enforced disappearance cannot and must not be the response to such challenges," said the Chair Rapporteur on Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances, Ariel Dulitzky, adding that "enforced disappearance is a flagrant violation of the basic principles which underpin the international system of human rights."

The Working Group reported over 43,000 cases of enforced disappearances in 88 countries, including over 5700 in Sri Lanka, as well as 16,400 in Iraq, 3000 in Algeria and over 2000 in Guatemala, El Salvador and Peru.

"We would like to thank states who cooperate with us. Others concern us as they have never replied to our invitation or they have supplied us with irrelevant information," the Rapporteur added. 

The Sri Lankan government continues to refuse entry to the Working Group, which first requested entry in 1996, stating that it will refuse entry until after the Presidential Commission on Missing Persons concludes its work.

The Rapporteur went on to add:

"It is still being used, because there are thousands of cases of enforced disappearances, which started decades ago but have still not been solved. Thousands of families do not know the fate or whereabouts of their loved ones and they do not receive truth, justice or reparations.

Very often we are told that we cannot do more to look for the disappeared in order not to open wounds of the past. The Working Group's experience shows us the opposite, where wounds fester and we often have to open up graves in order to close and heal the tragic consequences of mistaken security policies."