International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances, 30 August

Unveiling the Deeper Dimensions: Enforced Disappearance Beyond Mere Human Rights Violation by Juan Pedro

Introduction

As the upcoming 30th of August approaches, my heart grows heavy with the weight of remembrance. On this day, I join the world in commemorating the lives of the countless individuals who have fallen victim to enforced disappearance. It’s a sombre occasion that resonates deeply with my own sentiments and emotions.

The concept of enforced disappearance, as it was crystallised in the resolution 65/209 adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on December 21, 2010, strikes a chord within me. The assembly’s expression of profound concern about the rising occurrences of enforced or involuntary disappearances across diverse corners of the world stirs a sense of solidarity. These are instances where people have been snatched away from their lives, leaving a void that is both agonising and haunting.

Enforced disappearance, a crime that extends far beyond the violation of an individual’s human rights, operates as a sinister strategy aimed at sowing terror throughout societies. The pervasive sense of unease and vulnerability stemming from this nefarious practice doesn’t confine itself solely to the immediate families of the disappeared; rather, it casts its shadow across entire communities and the very fabric of society.

This insidious phenomenon has transcended borders to become a global predicament, transcending geographical confines. No longer bound solely to the realm of military dictatorships, enforced disappearances have evolved into a weapon of choice even in intricate landscapes of internal conflict, often utilised as a tool of political suppression against adversaries.

The Agonising Burden: Prime Victims of Enforced Disappearance

The individuals caught in the grip of this ordeal often endure excruciating torture while living in a perpetual state of dread for their lives. Fully cognisant that their families remain oblivious to their fate, they hold onto the slim hope of rescue. However, they find themselves severed from the protective confines of the law, effectively “vanished” from the fabric of society. Consequently, they are stripped of their fundamental rights, subject entirely to the mercy of those who have taken them captive.

Even in instances where death doesn’t serve as the ultimate conclusion and the victims are eventually released from this harrowing experience, the indelible marks — both physical and psychological — of this dehumanising ordeal linger. The brutality and torture that often accompany their ordeal imprint enduring scars.

Darkened Innocence: The Compounded Agony When the Vanished Are Children

When the vanished are children, the agony inflicted upon families is compounded, casting a darker shadow on innocence lost. The echoes of enforced disappearances reverberate throughout the year, with a poignant intensity felt most keenly during special occasions, when the chair that should be occupied by the vanished remains hauntingly vacant. The pain etched into the hearts of families whose loved ones have been detained intensifies as birthdays, anniversaries, and holidays arrive, each one a reminder of the irreplaceable void. The tangible weight of that empty seat serves as a constant, suffocating reminder of the unceasing limbo endured by these families, a burden that defies the bounds of mere words. In the midst of these heartrending experiences, where families grapple with the agonising absence of their loved ones, the image of that vacant chair becomes an emblem of the emotional fractures that forever alter lives, leaving them irrevocably disrupted. The stress of not knowing and the sorrow of uncertainty add layers of excruciating agony, underscoring the relentless toll inflicted by these disappearances on families’ hearts and souls.

The relentless ache of not knowing, of confronting each new day with the weight of unanswered questions, sears into the core of their being.

The Other Victims: Families Affected by Deliberate Proxy Suffering and Enforced Disappearance

As someone deeply affected by these events, I stand united with the families and friends of the victims, grappling with the agonising journey through slow mental torment. The unknown fate of our loved ones leaves an indelible mark on our souls. The questions linger like shadows: Are they still alive? Where are they held? Under what conditions do they suffer? The alternating currents of hope and despair are our constant companions, and time becomes an unbearable weight as we wait, often for years, for news that may or may not arrive.

The pain doesn’t end there. The threat we feel, the looming possibility that we too might be ensnared in this nightmarish fate, adds an insidious layer to our ordeal. Seeking truth becomes a precarious endeavour, one that could thrust us into even greater peril. The distress within our families is multiplied by the tangible consequences of disappearance. Often, the vanished individual was the breadwinner, the pillar upon which the family’s stability rested. Their absence reverberates beyond emotions, leading to financial strain that weighs heavily on already wounded hearts.

The pain of not knowing when—or if—our beloved will return makes adapting to this new reality almost impossible. The economic fallout extends beyond emotions, pushing us to the fringes of society. Some legal frameworks even deny us the basic means of support without a death certificate, a cruel twist that deepens isolation.

In the midst of this turmoil, it’s often women who bear the brunt. Women are the unsung heroes leading the charge to unveil the truth, and yet, they face intimidation, persecution, and ruthless reprisals. The struggle is compounded for them, particularly when they are direct victims of these disappearances. They become doubly vulnerable to unspeakable forms of violence, a reality that shakes me to my core.

Children, innocent souls caught in the crossfire, suffer as well. A child’s vanishing violates the very essence of their right to a personal identity, an infraction against the principles enshrined in the Convention on the Rights of the Child. The loss of a parent through disappearance is a violation of a child’s basic human rights, a wound that cuts deep into their young hearts.

The Opposite of Love is not Hate, it is Indifference

In the poignant words of Elie Wiesel, the opposite of love is not hate, but indifference; the opposite of art is not ugliness, but indifference; the opposite of faith is not heresy, but indifference. And, in his solemn reflection, he reminds us that even the opposite of life is not death, but the haunting spectre of indifference.

In the arena of enforced disappearances, a troubling void emerges from those wielding significant power and influence – a silence that resounds loudly. As the adage asserts, “The opposite of love is not hate, it is indifference.” This axiom holds a stark mirror to the individuals who possess the capability to make a difference but opt for inaction. This indifference, especially when exhibited by those capable of effecting change, is a profound betrayal. It surpasses mere passivity; it is a conscious choice to ignore the suffering of fellow human beings. This indifference perpetuates a climate of impunity, allowing these grievous injustices to flourish unchecked. Such inaction becomes a poignant illustration of moral negligence.

Those who hold sway in shaping opinions and decisions, yet choose the path of indifference, bear a weighty responsibility. Their silence acts as an accomplice to ongoing suffering, shattering families and disrupting communities. It underscores the truth that inaction can be as destructive as direct harm. Confronted by this indifference, it becomes our collective duty to critique and condemn those who possess the power to bring about change, yet consciously refrain from doing so. This is a call for accountability, a demand for empathy, and a repudiation of complacency in the face of human rights transgressions that demand our unified action and unwavering compassion. In the poignant words of António Guterres,

“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.”

Conclusion

In a world marred by the harrowing spectre of enforced disappearances, where the cries of the wronged echo in the shadows, and the vacant chairs bear witness to untold agony, the complicity of indifference stands as an affront to our shared humanity. To those who wield the power to ignite change but choose instead the path of passivity, let this serve as an unyielding call: history’s pages are being written in ink stained with the tears of victims and the grief of families left in limbo. It is a clarion call for empathy, a demand for action, and an unwavering refusal to accept the chilling silence that prolongs the torment. In the face of such darkness, may our collective voices rise as a symphony of defiance, shaking the foundations of apathy and insensitivity, and ushering in an era where compassion triumphs over complacency, and justice becomes the anthem that reverberates through every empty chair and every broken heart.

For parents like myself, the sorrow of uncertainty becomes an engulfing abyss when faced with the absence of a vanished family member. This poignant truth emerges: within life’s intricate tapestry, it is not the answers that mould our journey, but the profound questions that guide us through the labyrinth of emotion and introspection, compelling us to find solace within the enigma’s embrace.