Uladzimir Kobets: Enforced disappearances are problem of both Belarus and Ukraine

The UN members called to ratify the International Convention against Enforced Disappearances at the World Forum on Human Rights in Morocco.

The Second World Forum on Human Rights that was held from November 27 to November 30 attracted about 8,000 participants from five continents, representing local, regional and international NGOs, institutions of the United Nations, governments, national human rights groups, international organisations, professional groups, trade unions and corporations. Ales Bialiatski, the leader of Viasna human rights centre and former political prisoner, and Uladzimir Kobets, a coordinator of the European Belarus civil campaign, represented Belarus at the Forum.

The International Coalition Against Enforced Disappearances (ICAED) had a meeting during the Forum. Belarus was represented by We Remember initiative, the European Belarus civil campaign and charter97.org.

Participants of the ICAED meeting expressed their concerns over the fact that enforced disappearances that take place in many countries around the world and investigation of which is blocked by the authorities are not longer regarded as priorities by certain international human rights organisations. It may allow dictators to use brutal means against activists, journalists and politicians more often.

Human rights defenders read reports on the situation of enforced disappearances in their countries. Uladzimir Kobets spoke about uninvestigated cases of the disappearance of opposition leaders Viktar Hanchar, Anatol Krasouksi, Yury Zakharanka and journalist Dzmitry Zavadski in 1999-2000.

“We try to give truthful information not only about problems in Belarus. Russia's military aggression against Ukraine led to hundreds or even thousands of disappeared civilians and Ukrainian servicemen. It is not the problem of only Ukraine and its neighbours. It is a challenge to those struggling against enforced disappearances. Only common efforts of all of us who have first-hand experience of enforced disappearances or live in the countries where dissidents disappear can prevent new crimes. Ahead of the International Human Rights Day, we support the call to the governments of the UN members to sign and ratify the UN Convention against the Enforced Disappearances,” the politician said.

Iryna Krasouskaya, the leader of We Remember initiative, addressed the audience via a video call. She proposed to hold an international conference involving the families of the people disappeared in Belarus. The issue on the conference was put on the ICAED agenda for 2015.

The members of the Coalition called on the UN member states to secure the ratification of the International Convention against the Enforced Disappearances. Belarus, which top officials are suspected of being involved in political abductions and killings, has not joined the Convention.