A/HRC/WGEID/112/1
III. Other activities
6.
At its 112th session, the Working Group met with relatives of victims of enforced
disappearances, and with non-governmental organizations working on the issue. The
Working Group also held formal meetings with representatives of the Governments of
Japan and Portugal.
7.
During its sessions, the Working Group discussed the annual report, the report on its
country visit to Albania, the thematic report on enforced disappearances in the context of
migration, and other internal matters and activities, including future visits.
IV. Information concerning enforced or involuntary
disappearances in States reviewed by the Working Group
during the session
Algeria
Joint allegation letter
8.
On 31 March 2017, the Working Group transmitted, jointly with other special
procedure mechanisms, a letter of allegation concerning the alleged arrest and detention of,
and charges against, Rafik Belamrania, reportedly in reprisal for having published the
decision of the Human Rights Committee concerning the enforced disappearance of his
father.
Reply to joint urgent appeal
9.
On 6 March 2017, the Government of Algeria transmitted a reply to the joint urgent
appeal sent on 1 November 2016 concerning reports of arbitrary arrests and detentions
following a peaceful assembly of relatives of disappeared persons. In its response the
Government indicated that the gathering had been dispersed by the security services, and
that there had been no arrest or detention of any demonstrator. It also explained that the
intervention of the police force in the peaceful demonstration was related to the fact that the
members of families of the disappeared who had participated in the protest outside the
headquarters of the Governor of the Province of Constantine had done so without having
obtained a permit. The Government concluded that the protestors had been investigated in
accordance with legal procedures and released.1
Observations
10.
The Working Group recalls article 13 (3) of the Declaration on the Protection of All
Persons from Enforced Disappearance, in which it is stated that steps are to be taken to
ensure that all involved in an investigation, including the complainant, counsel, witnesses
and those conducting the investigation, are protected against ill-treatment, intimidation or
reprisal. Furthermore, the Working Group recalls Human Rights Council resolution 7/12, in
which the Council urged States to take steps to provide adequate protection to witnesses of
enforced or involuntary disappearances, human rights defenders acting against enforced
disappearances and the lawyers and families of disappeared persons against any
intimidation or ill-treatment to which they might be subjected.
1
2
See https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/DownLoadFile?gId=49045.