The 115^th Assembly of the Inter - Parliamentary Union

Third Standing Committee - Democracy and Human Rights

 

 

Missing persons

 

 

Deputy Doina Micşunica DREŢCANU

Romanian Inter-Parliamentary Group

 

 

Mr. President,

Dear colleagues,

 

 

I congratulate the rapporteurs for the insightful documents prepared and especially for the opportunity to examine an issue less present on the inter-parliamentary agenda, despite its far-reaching consequences.  

 

Let me draw your attention, very briefly, on some aspects that, in my view, should be included in the resolution.

 

First, as a woman and also as member of the Standing Committee on Equal Opportunities in the Romanian Chamber of Deputies, I would recommend a more gender sensitive approach, from a double perspective: missing women, on one side, and women as relatives of missing persons, in particular women becoming single heads of family, on the other side.   

 

Second, we must not lose sight of the fact that very often persons deprived of their freedom become unaccounted for upon their release. Therefore, measures should be implemented to ensure that release is verifiable, security of the released is guaranteed and families are duly notified.

 

Third, we should emphasize that the management and communication of information on missing persons must observe certain legal and ethical standards and rules regarding the protection of personal data, including medical and genetic information.

 

Fourth, it is noteworthy that in certain cases, the witnesses to disappearances and their families become vulnerable and, in their turn, might need protection.

 

Dear colleagues,

 

The Romanian authorities address the question of missing persons including in the context of the country’s upcoming accession to the European Union and the corresponding preparations for the management of the future EU external borders. One example is the setting up in 2005 of a National Information System of Signaling, compatible with the Schengen acquis, which provides specific information and data on certain categories of persons, missing persons being one of them. 

 

 

Ladies and Gentlemen,

 

The IPU has acquired unique experience and expertise in the fields of democracy, human rights and humanitarian law. In approaching new measures to enhance cooperation with the United Nations, we should envisage, as priority, the setting up of a mechanism of exchanges and consultations with the newly established Human Rights Council, including on the issue of missing persons.

 

As representatives of a country which is member of the Council and will be entrusted next year with the presidency of this body, we commit ourselves to promote and support this objective.     

 

Thank you.