Definition of Enforced Disappearance

The Law defines enforced disappearance as follows: The term enforced disappearance relates to illegal arrest, detention, abduction or any other form of deprivation of liberty by an agent of the State or by a person or group of persons acting with the authorisation, support or acquiescence of the State, followed by a refusal to acknowledge the deprivation of liberty or by the concealment of the fate or whereabouts of the disappeared person, which places such a person outside the protection of the law. Whoever illegally and without lawful authority commits, orders, solicits or induces the commission, attempts to commit, is an accomplice to or participates in the forcible or involuntary disappearance of a person or group of persons, is considered to cause the enforced or involuntary disappearance of that person.