United Nations
General Assembly
A/HRC/WGEID/125/1
Distr.: General
6 December 2021
Original: English
Human Rights Council
Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances
Communications transmitted, cases examined, observations
made and other activities conducted by the Working Group
on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances*
125th session** (20–29 September 2021)
I. Communications
1.
Between 22 May and 29 September 2021, the Working Group transmitted 13 cases
under its urgent procedure, to Bangladesh (1), Mozambique (1), Nicaragua (5), Pakistan (2),
Saudi Arabia (2), Turkey (1) and Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) (1).
2.
At its 125th session, held from 20 to 29 September 2021, the Working Group decided
to transmit 145 newly reported cases of enforced disappearance, to Algeria (10), Brazil (3),
China (2), the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (18), Egypt (6), Indonesia (6), Iran
(Islamic Republic of) (4), Pakistan (56), Rwanda (2), Sri Lanka (1), the Syrian Arab Republic
(36) and the United Arab Emirates (1).
3.
The Working Group also decided to transmit four cases tantamount to enforced
disappearance to the de facto authorities in Sana’a and two cases to the Restoration Council
of Shan State as non-State actors.1
4.
The Working Group clarified 31 cases, in Cameroon (2), Egypt (6), India (2), Iran
(Islamic Republic of) (1), Kenya (1), Libya (1), Pakistan (12), Saudi Arabia (4), Turkey (1)
and the Russian Federation (1). A total of 13 cases were clarified on the basis of information
provided by Governments and 18 on the basis of information provided by other sources.
5.
Between 22 May and 29 September 2021, the Working Group transmitted 32
communications, most of them jointly with other special procedure mechanisms. The
communications consisted of one prompt intervention letter to Mexico; nine joint urgent
appeals, to Egypt (2), Iran (Islamic Republic of) (2), Kenya (1), Libya (1), Nigeria (1), Saudi
Arabia (1) and the United Arab Emirates (1); 21 joint allegation letters, to Algeria (2),
Bahrain (1), China (2), Cuba (1), Cyprus (1), the Democratic Republic of the Congo (1),
Egypt (2), El Salvador (1), Eritrea (1), India (1), Iran (Islamic Republic of) (1), Mexico (2),
* The annexes to the present document are reproduced as received, in the languages of submission only.
** Despite the travel restrictions imposed in connection to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19)
1
pandemic, the Working Group met in person.
The Working Group stresses that the cases addressed to the de facto authorities in Sana’a and to the
Restoration Council of Shan State do not in any way imply the expression of any opinion concerning
the legal status of any territory, city or area, or of its authorities.
GE.21-18087(E)