UN Rapporteur Gathers Information from Families of the Disappeared

13-Sep-2026

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Ana Lorena, a member of the United Nations Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances, who visited the country to participate in an international conference on enforced disappearances, stayed in the country for approximately one and a half weeks. During this period, she met groups of family members of persons subjected to enforced disappearance from the Northern and Eastern Provinces and gathered extensive information concerning enforced disappearances that had occurred through various means.

To mark the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances, an international conference was held for the first time on 30 August at the Thanthai Selva Auditorium in Jaffna, under the theme “A Long Journey Towards Justice”. The conference was organised by family members of the disappeared from the Northern and Eastern Provinces.

Accordingly, Ana Lorena Delgadillo Perez, a member of the United Nations Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances, who had arrived in the country on a study visit at the special invitation of Lakshman Sanjeev, Legal Adviser and International and National Campaign Coordinator of the Association of Relatives of the Enforced Disappeared of the North and East, participated in the conference as a special guest.

Addressing the conference, she pointed out that it was unacceptable for State authorities to deny the existence of systematic and credible evidence relating to enforced disappearances. She further stressed that, following the ongoing excavation of mass graves, appropriate investigations must be conducted and justice must be delivered to the victims.

UN Working Group member Ana Lorena, who arrived in the country at the end of last month to participate in the conference, remained in the country until last Tuesday (8) and held detailed discussions with groups of family members of persons subjected to enforced disappearance from the Northern and Eastern Provinces.

During these meetings, Ana Lorena heard details and personal accounts relating to persons who disappeared during the war; persons who disappeared after surrendering to the military during the final stages of the war; persons who were abducted in white vans and subsequently disappeared; persons who were abducted for ransom and disappeared; and persons who disappeared even after their families had paid substantial sums demanded as ransom.

As the United Nations Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances is expected to submit its comprehensive report at the ongoing 63rd session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, it is expected that the above matters will also be incorporated into the report.