International Day of the Disappeared 2025: A Global Call for Truth, Justice, and an End to Enforced Disappearances

International Day of the Disappeared 2025: A Global Call for Truth, Justice, and an End to Enforced Disappearances.

The International Day of the Disappeared, observed annually on August 30, stands as a solemn reminder of one of the most devastating human rights crises facing our global community. This day is dedicated to honoring the countless individuals who have vanished in contexts of armed conflict, political repression, violence, migration, and disasters, while also recognizing the enduring anguish of families left behind in a state of perpetual uncertainty. The inception of this day traces back to the courageous efforts of the Latin American Federation of Associations for Relatives of Detained-Disappeared (FEDEFAM), a non-governmental organization founded in 1981 in Costa Rica that brought together regional groups working against secret imprisonment and forced disappearances across Latin America . These grassroots movements, often led by women whose family members had vanished under authoritarian regimes, catalyzed international awareness about this brutal practice.

The United Nations officially recognized the day through Resolution 65/209 adopted on December 21, 2010, which declared August 30 as the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances to be observed beginning in 2011 . This resolution expressed deep concern about the increase in enforced or involuntary disappearances globally, including arrest, detention, and abduction when these constitute enforced disappearances. The adoption of this day represented a significant milestone in the international community's acknowledgment of this grave human rights violation and its commitment to addressing it. The date was chosen to honor the founding of FEDEFAM and to recognize the particular prevalence of disappearances in Latin America during periods of military dictatorship, though the phenomenon has since become a global crisis affecting every region of the world .

The observation of this day has evolved significantly since its establishment, transforming from primarily a Latin American commemoration to a global movement involving international organizations, governments, civil society groups, and most importantly, families of the disappeared. Major human rights organizations including Amnesty International, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) now play crucial roles in coordinating activities and advocacy efforts around this day. These institutions work to increase public awareness, pressure governments to take action, and provide support to affected families, making the International Day of the Disappeared not just a symbolic observance but a catalyst for concrete action and solidarity.

The Global Scale of the Crisis: Statistics and Regions Affected

The crisis of disappeared persons represents a staggering humanitarian challenge of almost unimaginable proportions. According to the Family Links Network of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, there were more than 239,700 registered missing persons by the end of 2023, but this figure is acknowledged to represent only a small fraction of the actual global total . The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) reports that cases of missing persons registered with their organization alone have increased by 75 percent in just five years across Africa, demonstrating the escalating nature of this crisis . These statistics represent not just numbers but individual human beings whose fates remain unknown, and families trapped in agonizing uncertainty.

The geographical distribution of disappearances reveals a truly global problem that spares no region. According to the United Nations, hundreds of thousands of people have vanished during conflicts or periods of repression in at least 85 countries around the world . The Middle East remains particularly affected, with Iraq representing perhaps the most extreme case where up to one million people are believed to have gone missing over the past 40 years, more than in any other country globally . Syria continues to grapple with thousands of disappearances resulting from more than a decade of conflict, with many victims having vanished at the hands of government forces or extremist groups . In South Sudan, decades of conflict and displacement have separated families and left thousands without news of loved ones, with the ICRC and South Sudan Red Cross handling more than 6,000 open cases of missing persons as of June 2025 .

Table: Regional Overview of Missing Persons Cases

Region	Estimated Missing	Primary Contexts	Key Examples
Middle East	1,000,000+	Conflict, political repression	Iraq, Syria, Yemen
Africa	75% increase in 5 years	Conflict, migration, violence	South Sudan, Sudan, Nigeria
Asia	60,000-100,000 in Sri Lanka alone	Conflict, human rights abuses	Sri Lanka, Philippines, China
Latin America	150,000+ in Colombia	Drug violence, political repression	Colombia, Mexico, Chile
Europe	12,000 in Western Balkans	Historical conflicts, migration	Kosovo, Mediterranean migration

The contexts in which people disappear are varied and complex. Armed conflict remains a primary driver, with current hotspots including Ukraine, where thousands of families endure the anguish of not knowing what happened to loved ones missing in the ongoing conflict with Russia . Migration routes have become particularly deadly, with thousands having gone missing as a result of the Mediterranean migration crisis in recent years . Political repression continues to be a significant factor, with countries like China, Egypt, Sri Lanka, and the United Arab Emirates using enforced disappearance as a tool to silence dissent and punish critics . Natural disasters also contribute to the problem, though typically on a smaller scale compared to conflict and violence.

Understanding Enforced Disappearance: Definition and Impact

Legal Definition and Characteristics

According to the United Nations Declaration on the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance, proclaimed by the General Assembly in resolution 47/133 of December 18, 1992, an enforced disappearance occurs when:

"persons are arrested, detained or abducted against their will or otherwise deprived of their liberty by officials of different branches or levels of Government, or by organized groups or private individuals acting on behalf of, or with the support, direct or indirect, consent or acquiescence of the Government, followed by a refusal to disclose the fate or whereabouts of the persons concerned or a refusal to acknowledge the deprivation of their liberty, which places such persons outside the protection of the law." 

This definition highlights several key elements that distinguish enforced disappearance from other crimes. First, it involves state involvement or acquiescence, whether directly through government officials or indirectly through groups acting with state support. Second, it requires a refusal to acknowledge the deprivation of liberty or disclose information about the person's fate. Third, and perhaps most crucially, it places victims outside the protection of the law, rendering them vulnerable to torture, extrajudicial killing, and other violations without any legal recourse or safeguards.

Multi-dimensional Impact

The impact of enforced disappearances extends across multiple dimensions—physical, psychological, social, and economic—affecting not only the direct victims but also their families, communities, and society at large.

Impact on Victims

Victims of enforced disappearance face extreme vulnerability and suffering. They are frequently tortured and live in constant fear for their lives, well aware that their families do not know their fate and that chances of rescue are minimal . Removed from the protective precinct of the law, they are deprived of all their rights and are completely at the mercy of their captors. Even in cases where victims are eventually released, the physical and psychological scars of this form dehumanization, often accompanied by brutality and torture, remain long after their ordeal has ended .

Impact on Families

Families of the disappeared experience slow mental anguish, suspended between hope and despair as they wonder and wait, sometimes for years or even decades, for news that may never come . This psychological distress is frequently compounded by material consequences, as the disappeared person is often the family's main breadwinner . The emotional upheaval is exacerbated by material deprivation, made more acute by the costs incurred if families decide to undertake a search. Furthermore, the absence of a death certificate may make it impossible to draw a pension or receive other means of support, leading to economic and social marginalization .

Women often bear the brunt of these economic hardships and are frequently at the forefront of the struggle to resolve disappearances, making them vulnerable to intimidation, persecution, and reprisals . Children also suffer profoundly, both directly when they themselves are disappeared (violating their right to identity under the Convention on the Rights of the Child) and indirectly when they lose a parent through disappearance .

Impact on Communities and Society

Enforced disappearance has frequently been used as a strategy to spread terror within societies . The feeling of insecurity generated by this practice affects not only close relatives of the disappeared but also their communities and society as a whole. Communities are directly affected by the disappearance of breadwinners and the subsequent degradation of families' economic situations and social marginalization. When practiced systematically, enforced disappearances can create a culture of fear and silence that undermines social cohesion and destroys the fabric of civil society.

Legal Framework and International Response

The international community has developed a robust legal framework to address the crime of enforced disappearance, though implementation remains inconsistent across regions. The cornerstone of this framework is the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance, adopted by the UN General Assembly on December 20, 2006 . This convention recognizes enforced disappearance as a crime under international law and, when committed as part of a widespread or systematic attack directed at any civilian population, as a crime against humanity not subject to a statute of limitations . It gives victims' families the right to seek reparations and to demand the truth about the disappearance of their loved ones.

The Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, which came into force on July 1, 2002, also classifies enforced disappearance as a crime against humanity when committed as part of a widespread or systematic attack . This classification allows for international prosecution of perpetrators when national justice systems fail to act. Additionally, the United Nations Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances plays a crucial role in monitoring and addressing cases globally. This expert body accepts cases from any country in the world without requiring that domestic remedies be exhausted first, and can receive submissions from relatives of the disappeared or organizations acting on their behalf .

Despite these international mechanisms, impunity remains widespread for perpetrators of enforced disappearance . Many governments have not signed or ratified the international convention, while others have failed to implement it in practice . States frequently use counter-terrorist activities as an excuse for breaching their obligations, and harassment of human rights defenders, relatives of victims, witnesses, and legal counsel dealing with cases of enforced disappearance remains ongoing . This culture of impunity not only denies justice to victims and their families but also perpetuates cycles of violence and repression.

Table: International Legal Framework Against Enforced Disappearance

Instrument	Adoption Date	Key Provisions	Status
UN Declaration on Protection from Enforced Disappearance	December 18, 1992	First international definition of enforced disappearance	General Assembly Resolution 47/133
Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court	July 1, 2002	Classifies enforced disappearance as crime against humanity	Ratified by 123 states
International Convention for Protection from Enforced Disappearance	December 20, 2006	Establishes state obligations, victim rights, monitoring committee	98 signatories, 68 parties
UN Working Group on Enforced Disappearances	1980	Monitors cases globally, communicates with governments	Mandate renewed annually

Regional human rights systems have also developed mechanisms to address enforced disappearances. The Inter-American Convention on Forced Disappearance of Persons came into force in 1996, while the European Court of Human Rights and African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights have developed significant jurisprudence on states' obligations to prevent and investigate disappearances. These regional bodies sometimes offer more accessible avenues for redress for victims' families, though their effectiveness varies considerably across regions.

Thematic Focus for 2025: Key Issues and Urgent Cases

The observation of the International Day of the Disappeared in 2025 highlights several critical thematic issues and brings attention to specific emblematic cases that illustrate the ongoing global challenge.

Vulnerability of Women and Children

Special attention is being paid in 2025 to specific vulnerable groups, particularly children and people with disabilities . The disappearance of a child constitutes a clear violation of multiple provisions of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, including the right to a personal identity . Similarly, the loss of a parent through disappearance represents a serious violation of a child's human rights with potentially lifelong consequences. Women are disproportionately affected by the economic consequences of disappearances and often face particular vulnerabilities when they themselves are disappeared, including increased risk of sexual violence .

Colombia has made history in 2024 with Law 2364, the first global legislation aimed specifically at safeguarding women who search for victims of enforced disappearance . However, a year later, implementation is still pending, leaving these courageous women without the protection they need to continue their searches safely. This legislative gap highlights the ongoing challenges in translating legal frameworks into practical protection for vulnerable groups.

Emblematic Cases Highlighted in 2025

Several emblematic cases are receiving particular attention during the 2025 observance:

• Colombia: The case of Nydia Erika Bautista, who was forcibly disappeared on August 30, 1987, by members of a Military Intelligence Brigade of the Colombian National Army . Despite years of advocacy, justice remains out of reach for her family, who continue to lead the Fundación Nydia Erika Bautista and advocate for accountability. Her case exemplifies the long-term struggle for truth and justice that many families face, with some waiting decades for answers.

• Egypt/United Arab Emirates: Abdul Rahman Al-Qaradawi, a poet and political activist who was forcibly extradited from Lebanon to the United Arab Emirates in January 2025 and has been held incommunicado since, with no access to family, lawyers, or consular support . His case demonstrates how enforced disappearance continues to be used as a tool of political repression against critics of government policies.

• China: Gao Zhisheng, one of China's most respected human rights lawyers who has been subjected to enforced disappearance, torture, and illegal detention as a result of his work on politically sensitive cases . His disappearance since August 2017 exemplifies the broader human rights crisis in China, where authorities detain critics in secret and deny contact with lawyers and family.

• Sri Lanka: Prageeth Eknaligoda, a journalist who disappeared after publishing an article critical of then-President Mahinda Rajapaksa in January 2010 . His case is emblematic of Sri Lanka's failure to provide accountability for past human rights violations, despite having one of the world's highest numbers of enforced disappearances (between 60,000-100,000 since the late 1980s).

These cases illustrate the global nature of the crisis, the diverse profiles of victims, and the common patterns of impunity that transcend regions and political systems. They also highlight the courageous resilience of families who continue to search for truth and justice despite often facing intimidation and retaliation.

Commemoration and Awareness Activities in 2025

The International Day of the Disappeared is marked worldwide through various commemorative events, awareness campaigns, and advocacy initiatives designed to honor the disappeared, support their families, and demand action from authorities.

Global Commemorative Events

In 2025, organizations and communities around the world are organizing events to mark the day. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is highlighting stories from various regions including South Sudan, Jordan, the Philippines, and Ukraine . In the Philippines, families of the missing from the 2017 Marawi conflict are being honored through "The Book of Memories" and a public photo exhibition in Iligan City . The 77-page book gathers personal testimonies and portraits by Filipino photojournalist Larry Monserate Piojo, accompanied by cherished belongings of the missing that serve as powerful mementos embodying both absence and presence.

The International Commission on Missing Persons (ICMP) has organized a global "virtual candle" social media campaign to raise awareness about the alarming increase in enforced disappearances worldwide . Similarly, in the Western Balkans, ICMP's program has organized a campaign to light 12,000 virtual candles representing the remaining missing persons in the region . In Sarajevo, silhouettes symbolizing missing persons have been erected in the city center, where passersby are invited to write messages and place them on the installations .

Awareness Campaigns and Social Media Initiatives

Awareness campaigns have adapted to digital platforms, with organizations encouraging supporters to use hashtags like #EndEnforcedDisappearances and #IDVED2025 to share information and amplify the voices of affected families . Social media content ideas being promoted include sharing the history and significance of the day, posting polls about awareness of enforced disappearances, creating photo contests symbolizing hope and remembrance, highlighting organizations supporting families, sharing testimonials from affected families, and posting infographics on the global impact of enforced disappearances .

The ICRC's online campaign features powerful visual representations of the scale of the crisis, noting that every minute they help four families separated by conflict, violence, migration, and disasters call each other; every hour they help clarify the fate and whereabouts of two missing persons; and every day they facilitate the reunification of 20 people with their families . These statistics provide tangible evidence of the impact that dedicated efforts can have despite the overwhelming scale of the challenge.

Psychosocial Support Initiatives

Innovative psychosocial support programs are being highlighted during the 2025 observance. In Jordan, the ICRC has developed "Memory Boxes" as part of its accompaniment program for families of missing people from Syria . These boxes contain personal belongings like eyeglasses, perfume, handwritten letters, wristwatches, or house keys that carry powerful memories, giving the missing a continuing presence in their families' lives. This initiative emerged from support groups in which relatives, having found strength through collective experience, became "accompaniers" to others navigating the same loss.

Similarly, in Ukraine, where thousands of families endure the anguish of not knowing what happened to loved ones missing in the ongoing conflict, individuals like Liudmyla (a grandmother whose grandson is missing) have created poetry groups where words become a form of healing, offering comfort in the face of silence . These community-based initiatives demonstrate the resilience of families and the creative approaches being developed to cope with the ongoing trauma of disappearance.

The Role of International Organizations and the ICRC

International organizations play a crucial role in addressing the issue of disappearances, providing both immediate humanitarian response and long-term advocacy for systemic change. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) holds a special position due to its unique status as a non-governmental sovereign entity and its strict policy of neutrality . In some cases, the ICRC is the only institution granted access to specific groups of prisoners, enabling a minimum level of contact and inspection of their treatment. For affected families, messages transmitted by the ICRC are often the only hint about the fate of these prisoners .

The ICRC's work on missing persons extends far beyond victims of enforced disappearance to include all those whose families have lost contact as a result of conflicts, natural disasters, or other tragedies . These missing may be detained, stranded in foreign countries, hospitalized, or dead. Through its tracing services and collaboration with 189 national Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies worldwide, the ICRC seeks to obtain information about their fate on behalf of their families . The organization reminds governments and other groups of their obligations to respect the families' right to know the fate of their loved ones and works with families of the missing to help them address their particular psychological, social, legal, and financial needs.

The Family Links Network, coordinated by the ICRC and National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, represents a concrete mechanism for addressing cases of separation and disappearance . In 2024 alone, the network handled over 94,000 people registered as missing by their families, with a current total of 284,400 registered missing people . Despite the staggering numbers, the network achieved significant impact: 16,000 people were located, over 90,500 Red Cross Messages were delivered, and 2.3 million telephone calls were facilitated between separated family members . These operational statistics demonstrate the tangible difference that coordinated international action can make in addressing this humanitarian crisis.

Other organizations like Amnesty International and the International Commission on Missing Persons (ICMP) play complementary roles. Amnesty International focuses on advocacy, documentation, and pressure on governments to fulfill their obligations , while ICMP provides specialized technical expertise in locating and identifying missing persons, particularly through DNA analysis . This division of labor allows for a comprehensive approach that addresses both the immediate humanitarian needs of families and the longer-term structural changes required to prevent future disappearances and ensure accountability for past ones.

Call to Action and Future Directions

The International Day of the Disappeared serves not only as a moment of remembrance but also as a call to action for governments, international organizations, civil society, and individuals to intensify efforts to address this global crisis.

Government Responsibilities

Governments worldwide are urged to take concrete steps including ratifying and implementing the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance; acknowledging the scope of the problem within their territories; cooperating with international mechanisms including the UN Working Group on Enforced Disappearances; providing adequate resources for investigations and searches; ensuring psychological, social, legal, and financial support for families of the disappeared; and ending impunity by ensuring those responsible are brought to justice .

Institutional and Organizational Actions

International organizations and civil society groups are encouraged to strengthen coordination between organizations working on missing persons issues; develop innovative techniques for locating and identifying missing persons; amplify the voices of families of the disappeared in policy discussions; provide holistic support programs that address psychological, social, legal, and economic needs; and document and publicize cases to maintain pressure on responsible authorities .

Individual Actions

Individuals can contribute to addressing this crisis in several meaningful ways: Take online action by signing petitions and sending messages to authorities about specific cases ; Raise awareness through social media using hashtags like #EndEnforcedDisappearances and #IDVED2025 ; Support organizations working directly with families of the disappeared through volunteering or donations ; Educate themselves and others about the scope and nature of the problem; and Participate in events and commemorations to show solidarity with affected families .

Looking forward, emerging challenges require innovative responses. The increasing number of missing migrants demands a coordinated international approach, with organizations like ICMP preparing to launch initiatives with the International Organization for Migration and other agencies to assess the number of migrants going missing and establish measures to locate and identify them . New technologies including advanced DNA analysis, artificial intelligence for matching missing persons records, and digital platforms for family tracing offer promising tools for addressing this age-old problem . Meanwhile, transitional justice processes in post-conflict societies continue to develop new approaches for accounting for the missing while providing truth, justice, and reparations to affected families.

Conclusion: The Enduring Struggle for Truth and Justice

The International Day of the Disappeared 2025 holds profound significance in a world where enforced disappearances continue to represent one of the most cruel and complex human rights challenges. As we reflect on the stories of the disappeared from South Sudan, Syria, Ukraine, Colombia, and countless other regions, we are reminded that behind each statistic lies a human being with dreams, relationships, and inherent dignity—and a circle of family members whose lives remain suspended in uncertainty .

The day represents not only a somber acknowledgment of this ongoing crisis but also a testament to human resilience. From the Memory Boxes in Jordan that preserve the presence of Syria's missing , to the poetry groups in Ukraine that transform grief into words , to the relentless advocacy of families like those of Nydia Erika Bautista in Colombia who have waited decades for answers , we witness the remarkable capacity of the human spirit to endure, remember, and demand justice even in the face of unimaginable loss.

As UN Secretary-General António Guterres has emphasized, "Impunity compounds the suffering and anguish. Under international human rights law, families and societies have a right to know the truth about what happened. I call on Member States to fulfil this responsibility" . On this International Day of the Disappeared 2025, let us honor the missing by amplifying the voices of their families, demanding action from authorities, and working toward a world where no one vanishes without a trace and no family is condemned to wait forever for answers that never come. The disappeared may be missing, but they are never forgotten; they are gone, but not lost; they are taken, but never abandoned by those who continue to search, remember, and love them .

Photo from: ShutterStock

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