Study on enforced or involuntary disappearances and economic, social and cultural rights

The main purpose of the report is to make the link between enforced disappearances and economic, social and cultural rights clearer and more explicit, and to shed light on how States should address this relationship.

The report examines not only the effect of enforced disappearances on the enjoyment of economic, social and cultural rights, but also the situation of human rights defenders and others who often become victims of enforced disappearances as a consequence of their work on those rights. Additionally, the report seeks to understand how the lack of effective enjoyment of economic, social and cultural rights is a factor leading or contributing to enforced disappearances.

In light of article 3 of the Declaration on the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance (hereinafter “the Declaration”), which urges States to take all effective measures to prevent and terminate acts of enforced disappearances, the report also discusses the measures that States should take to address infringements of economic, social and cultural rights of victims as cause and consequence of enforced disappearances.