GENEVA - The United Nations Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances concluded its 140th session, which took place from 14 to 23 September 2026 in Geneva, Switzerland.
During the session, the Working Group examined 116 reported cases of enforced disappearance that it had transmitted under its urgent action procedure between 9 May and 23 September 2026 concerning Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Israel, Nicaragua, Pakistan, the Russian Federation and the United Arab Emirates.
It also reviewed 399 cases, including newly reported cases under its standard procedure and updated information on previously transmitted cases, concerning Algeria, Argentina, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bolivia, Bulgaria, Burundi, China, Colombia, the Congo, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Egypt, El Salvador, the Gambia, Guatemala, Guinea, Honduras, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Libya, Mexico, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Peru, the Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, South Sudan, Spain, Sri Lanka, the Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Türkiye, Uganda, the United Arab Emirates, the United Republic of Tanzania, the United States of America, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) and Viet Nam.
In accordance with its methods of work, the Working Group continued to document acts tantamount to enforced disappearance perpetrated by non-State actors exercising government-like functions or de facto control over territory and populations. In this context, the Working Group decided to transmit two cases to de facto authorities in Afghanistan and Libya.
During the session, the Working Group also reviewed and adopted general allegations concerning obstacles to the implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance.
The experts also discussed several projects, including the forthcoming thematic report on enforced disappearances and militarization, for which the Working Group has held consultations, and will issue a call for inputs in October 2026.
The 140th session of the Working Group coincided with the presentation to the 63rd session of the Human Rights Council of its annual report and its thematic report on enforced disappearances and memorialization. The Working Group also presented its follow-up report on the recommendations made during its visit to Uruguay in July 2022.
On 15 September 2026, the Working Group held a public event to launch its thematic report. The Chair-Rapporteur of the Working Group also participated in the side event "Where Are They?", organized by the Permanent Mission of Ukraine on the enforced disappearance of Ukrainian soldiers and civilians. Aua Baldé, of the Working Group participated in side events on the future of the Addis Ababa Roadmap, the cooperation framework between the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights and the UN Special Procedures, and on preventing a new escalation of violations in Burundi ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
During the session, the Working Group held meetings with representatives of the Governments of Algeria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Costa Rica, India, Japan, Mozambique, Pakistan, the Republic of Korea, Ukraine and Uruguay, as well as with representatives of the authorities of the State of Palestine. It also held meetings, both in person and online, with relatives of disappeared persons, non-governmental organizations and other stakeholders, including the Independent Institution on Missing Persons in the Syrian Arab Republic.
On 21 September 2026, the Working Group held its annual joint meeting with the Committee on Enforced Disappearances to discuss their respective activities and common projects and they advanced in the drafting of their joint statement on enforced disappearances in the context of transnational repression.
The Working Group reiterates its gratitude to the Government of the Republic of Korea for its invitation to conduct a country visit which is foreseen to take place in 2027. The exact dates will be announced and a call for inputs prior to the visit will be circulated in due course.
The decisions made by the Working Group during the 140th session will be reflected in its next post-sessional report.
The 141st session of the Working Group is scheduled to take place exceptionally online from 25 to 29 January 2027 due to the ongoing United Nations Regular Budget Liquidity Situation. The Working Group is thankful to the Inter-American Court on Human Rights for its invitation to hold its 142nd session from 26 to 30 April 2027 in its headquarters in San José, Costa Rica.
Since this was the last session for Ms. Aua Baldé, whose mandate in the Working Group is coming to an end, the Working Group thanks her for her remarkable contribution, and, as well as, for the efforts spent in strengthening the relationship between Special Procedures and organs of the African system of Human and Peoples' Rights to the benefit of victims and civil society.
