The meaning behind the International Day of the Disappeared

Updated
Role of the UN in Protecting Human Rights of Women and Children
Role of the UN in Protecting Human Rights of Women and Children



Today is the International Day of the Disappeared, a day that calls upon the government to disclose the status of people or groups that have "disappeared" or been taken for social reasons, political reasons, or other reasons that somehow violated human rights. More specifically, this day focuses on bringing justice to those who were involved in the disappearance of these groups and individuals.

Enforced disappearance has historically and strategically been used to spread terror, affecting loved ones of the people who "disappear" as well as surrounding communities and society as a whole.

On December 21, 2010, the UN General Assembly gathered, expressing their deep-rooted global concern for this involuntary disappearances. In an effort to recognize the issue and provoke conversation, at the Assembly officially decided to declare every August 30 as the International Day of the Disappeared, and the observance began in 2011.

See the gallery below for more historical events in August:



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