International Day of Enforced Disappearances 2025:
Every year on 30 August, the world observes the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances, a grim reminder of one of the gravest violations of human rights and human dignity. Enforced disappearances, often used as a tool of repression and political control, create not only unimaginable suffering for victims but also deep trauma for families, communities, and societies.The UN Declaration on the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance (1992) defines enforced disappearance as, “The arrest, detention or abduction of persons against their will by state authorities or groups acting with their support, followed by a refusal to acknowledge the deprivation of liberty or concealment of the person’s fate or whereabouts, placing them outside the protection of the law.” This means that the victim is essentially erased from legal existence, making it one of the most severe violations of international law.
