Hidden Horrors of Armed Conflicts: Missing and Forcibly Disappeared Migrants

Geneva Academy Talks

World Bank

Forced displacement and migration are one of the many devastating consequences of armed conflicts. Conflicts in Afghanistan, Yemen, Ukraine, the Republic Democratic of the Congo and Syria, among others, have caused the displacement of thousands of people and many took the road to flee the violence and to seek refuge in other countries.

The migration route is, however, often paved with dangers – threats posed by organized crime, sea and desert crossing – and those fleeing armed conflicts are frequently at risk of going missing or being subjected to enforced disappearance. In this context, families’ efforts to find out what happened to their loved ones might turn out to be particularly challenging.

This IHL Talk will address – from a legal and policy perspective – the various humanitarian implications regarding the missing and forcibly disappeared migrants fleeing armed conflicts, including the search for the disappeared and assistance to families, paths to pursue accountability, as well as policies to address the issue of missing and forcibly disappeared migrants.

Panelists will address the following questions in particular:

• Concerning the call made by the United Nations Secretary-General to establish a new mechanism for the missing in Syria, and provided it encompasses a special task force for migrants, what lessons from other contexts could be drawn on?
• What are the options to hold accountable states, individuals and other actors regarding missing and forcibly disappeared migrants fleeing armed conflicts?
• How to organize structured, well-planned and families-inclusive national, regional and international policies addressing the issue of missing and forcibly disappeared migrants fleeing armed conflicts, and what role can international organizations like the International Committee of the Red Cross play in this regard?

Moderation

•  Ana Srovin Coralli, Teaching Assistant, Geneva Academy

Panelists

• Grażyna Baranowska, Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellow, Hertie Law School in Berlin and Member of the UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances
• Gabriella Citroni, Adjunct Professor of International Human Rights Law, University of Milano-Bicocca, Faculty member at the Geneva Academy and Member of the UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances
• Florian van König, Global Advocacy Lead, Central Tracing Agency, International Committee of the Red Cross

About IHL Talks

The IHL Talks are a series of events, hosted by the Geneva Academy, on international humanitarian law and current humanitarian topics. Academic experts, practitioners, policymakers and journalists discuss burning humanitarian issues and their regulation under international law.

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