The United Nations Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances (WGEID) has started reviewing more than 300 cases of disappearances, and recently submitted information on previously accepted cases and other communications concerning more than 40 countries.

During its 92nd session, which is taking place at the UN headquarters in Geneva from 3-12 November, the panel of independent experts will exchange views on individual cases under consideration and on the phenomenon of enforced disappearances, through meetings with Government delegations, other UN bodies, families of victims and civil society representatives.

Both panels will join together well-know experts in the fight against enforced disappearances, as well as the current members of the Working Group.

The Working Group’s core mandate is to assist relatives to ascertain the fate and whereabouts of their disappeared family members. It examines reports of disappearances received from relatives of disappeared persons or human rights organizations acting on their behalf.

It acts essentially as a channel of communication between the families of disappeared persons and Governments, and has successfully developed a dialogue with the majority of Governments concerned with the aim of solving cases of disappearance.

The Working Group deals with the cases on a purely humanitarian basis, irrespective of whether the Government concerned has ratified any relevant human rights treaty providing for an individual complaints procedure.

During the 30 years since its creation on 29 February 1980, the Working Group has considered more than 50,000 cases during the 30 years since its creation by the UN Commission on Human Rights.

Following the adoption in 1992 by the United Nations General Assembly of the Declaration on the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance as a body of principles for all States, the Working Group was encouraged to provide assistance in the implementation by States of the Declaration.

On 20 December 2006, the United Nations the General Assembly adopted and opened for signature, ratification and accession, the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance.

This human rights treaty will enter into force after the deposit of the twentieth instrument of ratification or accession.

As of September 2010, 86 States have signed and 19 have ratified or acceded to the Convention.