International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances today

International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances is being observed today (August 30) to honour and pay tribute to people who have faced enforced disappearances.

Global organisations UN and Amnesty International are observing this day to raise awareness about how enforced disappearance is a crime and should not be used as a tool to deal with situations of conflict.

On December 21, 2010, the United Nations General Assembly officially proclaimed August 30 as the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances.

The day is observed to raise awareness about the suffering of people who are arrested, detained or abducted against their will and governments refuse to disclose the whereabouts of such people. Enforced disappearance is a global problem that is still being practised around the world. It is a serious violation of human rights that is not restricted to a specific region.