The United Nations Committee on Enforced Disappearances (CED) has urged Zambia to intensify its efforts to ensure that all enforced disappearances are investigated impartially without delay.
Development Diaries reports that the committee made the call while announcing its findings on the country.
The committee voiced concerns regarding the alleged disappearances of journalist Humphrey Jupiter Nkonde; United Party for National Development (UPND) members, Sikaile Sikaile, Sonely Mwenya Chileshe Mulenga and Kayata Zhying; and UPND media team representative, Cheelo Katambo.
The committee also made several recommendations regarding the lack of information on measures to combat illegal international adoptions and the absence of data about other forms of placement and guardianship of children.
It asked Zambia to review its criminal legislation to make illegal adoption and guardianship specific offences, to review and, where appropriate, annul any adoption, placement or guardianship that originated in an enforced disappearance.
The practice of enforced disappearance is widespread in Africa but available data do not accurately reflect the magnitude of the problem because many cases are not reported or officially registered.
In its 2021 report, the UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances said only 4,765 out of 46,490 cases of enforced disappearances under consideration related to African countries.
Findings by Redress reveal that many African countries refuse to acknowledge the occurrence of enforced disappearance, do not keep an official record of the crime and the victims, and are reluctant to investigate when it takes place.
Also, it is understood that many victims decide not to report the disappearance for fear of reprisals, lack of independence and due process of the authorities in the country, and insufficient awareness of the legal remedies available at the national, regional and
international levels.
Development Diaries calls on the government of Zambia to respect the provisions of the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance which it ratified on 04 April, 2011.
We also urge the government of Zambia to ensure that those who arrest, detain or abduct a person and refuse to acknowledge that deprivation of liberty are investigated and prosecuted in a fair trial if there is sufficient admissible evidence.
Source: OHCHR
Photo source: ILA
