Colombian congress adopts law on disappeared
30/Nov/2009
The International Commission on Missing Persons (ICMP) welcomes the adoption of the Law on Homage to Disappeared Persons and Other Measures for their Search and Identification, which was adopted yesterday by the Colombian Congress.
“This law is an important step forward in the search and identification process and the development of appropriate expressions of commemoration to the missing in Colombia,” said Ms. Kathryne Bomberger, ICMP’s Director-General. “The law strengthens the process of genetic identification, and provides for protection of a victims’ genetic information. It also includes measures for protecting the integrity of unidentified remains and for the protection of places of clandestine burial.”
The new law promotes specific victims’ rights, including the right to observe exhumations and provides financial assistance for victims’ participation at handover and burial ceremonies. The law also establishes official dates for commemoration and other measures which allow the state and civil society to pay tribute to the missing and promote awareness of the issue.
The initiative to create this law arose in 2008 and was subsequently taken over by the office of Senator Alfonso Valdivieso Sarmiento, who after consultations with NGOs, victims associations, international organizations and state institutions, submitted the final draft of the Law to the Colombian Congress in May 2009. ICMP provided direct assistance in the creation of the Law, and has already started working, jointly with various state institutions, to assist in the implementation of some of the mechanisms created by it.
Source and full story: ICMP
(Tags: law and politics, missing people)