The United Nations Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances will visit Spain from 23rd to the 30th September 2013.

During the official visit, the UN experts will examine the measures taken by Spain on issues related to the prevention and eradication of enforced or involuntary disappearances. The experts will analyse in particular issues related to truth, justice, reparation and memory for victims of enforced disappearances.

The investigation is to look into the disappearances during the Franco Regime after the end of the Spanish Civil War. The regime controlled Spain until Franco’s death in 1975. During this period and even during the first year of the return to Democracy, dozens of cases of stolen babies have come to light. Obviously the investigation will also look into the victims of Franco’s repression; i.e., mass graves, etc.

At the end of the visit, on 30 September 2013, the Working Group will hold a press conference in Madrid at the Hotel NH Paseo del Prado, at 16.00h.

A final report on the visit will be presented to the UN Human Rights Council in 2014.

The Working Group was established by the UN Commission on Human Rights in 1980 to assist families in determining the fate and whereabouts of disappeared relatives.

For more information on the Working Group, log on to: http://www.ohchr.org/english/issues/disappear/index.htm

(News: Spain)