All human rights treaties and other documents reflect the notion that it is primarily the duty of states and their authorities or agent to protect human rights by law (rule of law) to ensure respect for human rights by state authorities or state agents themselves, and to promote and implement human rights, so individuals can fully enjoy them. Read more>>

Prevention is the first and foremost step to ban the phenomenon of enforced disappearances. Associations of relatives of the victims, together with human rights organizations and others have played a crucial role in realising measures to prevent the phenomenon of enforced disappearances. Read more>>

Remembering a historical period of repression gives rise to powerful forces. The memorial presents a warning about hazardous developments in the here and now or in the future by means of referring to the past. A memorial enables the (re)writing of history -which has often been distorted or denied. Read more>>

Although most people associate reparation with financial compensation, it also includes a broader spectrum of measures and actions that can be taken by governments, perpetrators and society, to compensate the victim in their needs and wishes. Read more>>

Exhumation is the technical procedure through which mortal remains are disinterred. In cases of disappearances, this procedure plays a fundamental role in order to identify the remains of the disappeared person, and to allow their return to the relatives for reburial in accordance with their religious beliefs and rites. The state has the responsibility to locate, exhume, respect, identify and return the mortal remains of disappeared persons. Read more>>