By Diana Sarosi

A further milestone in the fight against disappearances was marked with the First International Conference on Psychosocial Work in Exhumation Processes, Forced Disappearance, Justice and Truth organized by ECAP (equipo de estudios communitarios y accion psicosocial) with support from the Nord Süd Institute, the embassy of Spain, and GAC (grupo de accion communitarias). The conference brought together over 100 delegates from 30 different countries on February 20-23 in Antigua, Guatemala and included experts in the fields of sociology and psychology, forensic anthropology and archaeology, as well as community health workers, lawyers and human rights activists, all working in various capacities to stop disappearances and to support family members of disappeared in their search for the missing and fight for justice.

The conference had several objectives one of which was to exchange experiences around psychosocial work in exhumation processes and during the search for the missing. The wealth of so many different experiences from all over the world became evident through the discussions in the working groups, panels and roundtables, the realization of the mural, as well as the field trips and chats in the corridors. Nonviolence International Southeast Asia contributed by presenting their reflections and work against disappearances in Thailand.

The delegates worked diligently for two days trying to achieve the main objective of the conference: the drafting of minimum standards for psychosocial work in exhumations and the search for the missing. In order to address all aspects and facilitate focused discussions, working groups were formed around several themes such as community processes and accompaniment, holism in exhumation processes, compensation and reparation, the responsibility of the state, and care for the youth. The working groups generated thoughtful reflections and recommendations and succeeded in producing a first draft with 10 minimum standards. A committee was formed to finalize the standards over the next few months.

Disappearances have been a sad truth to Guatemala’s recent history. More than 45000 people, mostly Mayans, were disappeared during the conflict 25 years ago. Some of the families of the disappeared joined the conference to share their pain and struggle and to create a mural depicting the hardship and joy in their life. The conference concluded with a Mayan spiritual ceremony commemorating all those disappeared throughout the world – the authorities succeeded in disappearing their bodies; however, their spirits remain forever and the struggle for justice continues. Solidarity, forged from the core of universal pain, will be the strength in this struggle to ensure a world free from disappearances and impunity!

All across the world, thousands have borne terrific grief for the disappearance of their loved ones at the hands of cruel state regimes. Yet, sustained efforts by associations of relatives of disappeared and non-governmental organizations finally received due recognition on February 6, 2007. A United Nations treaty on enforced disappearances was first espoused in 1981 and on this historic date 57 states finally signed the International Convention for the Protection of all Persons from Enforced Disappearance. The convention states that enforced disappearance constitutes an international crime and establishes an absolute right not to be subjected to this human rights violation. It reaffirms the right to truth and reparation for victims and their relatives as well as the right to form associations and organizations to fight against enforced disappearances.