International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances Date in the current year: August 30, 2024

An enforced disappearance is a form of human rights violation. It occurs when a person is secretly abducted or imprisoned with the authorization, support, or acquiescence of a political organization or state. Victims of enforced disappearance are imprisoned at places unknown to their relatives and are placed outside the protection of law.

Enforced disappearance is typical for military dictatorships, being used for spreading terror within the society. Unfortunately, nowadays enforced disappearance has become a global problem, which is not restricted to a particular region. In many countries, it is used as a strategy to repress political opponents during internal conflicts.

International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances was established to raise public awareness of the fate of individuals who became victims of forced disappearance. On this day, Member States, international organizations, NGOs and concerned individuals are encourage to organize and participate in the events aimed at drawing attention to the fate of imprisoned individuals.