Only one more ratification is needed to trigger the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearances into life.

During recent activities events in Indonesia, USA, and Geneva, ICAED has reiterated the call on States to sign and ratify the Convention in order to achieve the minimal goal of twenty ratifications. That will mean the Convention will begin to have a real existence in the Human Rights Treaty System and full protection against enforced disappearances will become possible at least in those countries bound to observe its provisions.

Within six months of that historical date the new Committee on Enforced Disappearance (CED) will be formally convened with 10 experts appointed from ratifying States. CED will then begin their work plan to carry out the different monitoring functions assigned by the Convention.

While pursuing an universal balance with a fuller participation of Asian, East European, African and Western countries in the ratification process, ICAED believes the first historical goal of getting the Convention into vigor is within sight. But the campaign needs to press on if we are the achieve the objective of full implementation of the Convention in the international arena which is ICAED’s final goal.