Family Associations of Disappeared and Missing Persons: Lessons from Latin America and Beyond

The Essential presents lessons learned about the formation, structure and the activities of family associations of families of disappeared and missing persons. It also provides considerations to be taken into account when working with Syrian families of disappeared and missing persons. It shows that the needs and wishes of the victims and their families should be at the center of attention and that the families (who in many cases qualify as victims themselves) should be perceived as agents when identifying ways to support their cause. Organizations should not act on behalf or in the name of the victims but the victims (or relatives of victims) should be empowered to advocate for themselves.