Silencing democracy: enforced disappearances a serious threat to electoral freedom, say UN experts

GENEVA (17 September 2024) – Enforced disappearances in an election context often serve as an exemplary punishment and create a climate of repression and a chilling effect on society, particularly on opponents, thus hindering participation in the electoral process, independent UN experts* said today.

“The year 2024 is marked by an unprecedented number of elections worldwide, with billions of voters in more than 60 countries turning to the polls to elect public officials. We are concerned by the trend of a reported rise in human rights violations, including enforced disappearances, during election periods,” said the UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances.

In a report to the 57^th session of the Human Rights Council, the Working Group examines the interrelation between enforced disappearances and elections. The report considers key features, accountability challenges and preventive measures that can be put in place to address this violation of multiple human rights.

The Working Group expressed its concern at the broader impact of enforced disappearances, that extends beyond the violation of individual rights and has a long-lasting impact on the States’ democratic fabric, especially considering the number of elections in 2024.

“Electoral violence, including enforced disappearances, serve as a strategic tool for political influence, especially when used to maximise chances of winning and affecting electoral outcomes”, they said.

The report analyses a shift in repressive measures, from harsher and generalised tactics used before, during and after the elections, to enable enforced disappearances for shorter periods.

“The brevity of the detention periods and the lack of transparency by the detaining authorities create difficulties in collecting evidence and the reappearance of victims before formal complaints can be filed provides a layer of impunity for the perpetrators of the crime,” the experts said.

They said that “enforced disappearance or its risk, creates a chilling effect on voter turnout, which increases the general sense of disempowerment among citizens and leads to further electoral violence. This is particularly true for groups in situations of vulnerability, whose participation in elections should be encouraged, and not deterred”.

The report contains several recommendations directed at multiple stakeholders, including Member States, electoral bodies, OHCHR, online platform operators and intergovernmental bodies involved in electoral support.

The report will be further presented and discussed at a side-event to be held on 23 September 2024, at 15:00 hrs (CET) in Room IX of the Palais des Nations.