Bangkok--Jun 2--UNISBKK
The Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights is holding its seventy-fifth session from 26 May to 3 June in Bangkok, Thailand to look at cases of disappearances from around the world.
For the first time, a meeting of the Working Group is taking place in Asia in recognition of the increasing number of cases of disappearances received
from across the region.
The Working Group is examining newly submitted cases of persons who have
been reportedly forcibly disappeared by government officials or their agents, as well as recently submitted information on previously accepted cases from around the world.
The Working Group has been meeting with representatives of governments and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to discuss cooperation and cases under consideration.
The session has been held at the headquarters of the United Nations
Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, which has made the Working Group more accessible to governments and NGO representatives from Asia. Previous sessions have been held in New York and Geneva, while two sessions have taken place in Latin America.
The Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearance is made up of
five independent experts from all regions of the world. The Chairman-Rapporteur is Stephen J. Toope, the Vice-Chairman is J. Bayo Adekanye, and the other Expert-Members are Darko Gottlicher, Saied Rajaie Khorasani and Santiago Corcuera. The Chairman-Rapporteur of the Working Group will present a statement at the press conference, and answer questions. He will speak on behalf of the Working Group, an independent expert body created by the United Nations Commission on Human Rights.
A press conference will be held on 2 June 2005 at 10.00 hours.
NOTE TO EDITORS: You or your representatives are cordially invited to
attend the Press Conference on Thursday, 2 June 2005, at 10 a.m. at Theatre, UN Conference Centre, Rajdamnern Nok Avenue, Bangkok
Background information: http://www.ohchr.org/english/issues/disappear/ End.