Domestic Mechanisms Database


The Domestic Mechanisms Database includes mechanisms from around the world that have been put in place at national levels to address the crime of enforced disappearances. It includes criminal, constitutional and civil legislation, truth and reconciliation bodies, search and forensic mechanisms, reparation among other domestic frameworks. Users can search the source bank through a filter-based or key-term search and access text in English, Spanish, Russian and French.

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Country

Mechanism year

Keywords

Types of Mechanism

Themes

Law on Missing Persons

The Law applies to persons who disappeared in the period from 30 April 1991 to 14 February 1996 as a consequence of the armed conflict that happened on the territory of the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. It provides that the families of missing and disappeared persons have the right to know their fate, place of residence or, if dead, the circumstances and cause of their death and the location of the burial site, as well as to receive their mortal remains. It also provides that all relevant authorities are obliged to provide families of the missing or disappeared ...click to read more

Treatment

Mechanism Date

October 21, 2004

Country

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Theme

Reparations, Truth

Keywords: Search | Rehabilitation | Persons and groups affected | Reparation | Memorialisation

Law Establishing a Mechanism for Paying Tribute to Victims of Forced Disappearance and Providing for Measures to Locate and Identify Them

The Law establishes, among a number of obligations, that the relatives of the victims are paid the necessary resources to cover funeral expenses, travel, lodging and food throughout the process of delivering bodies or remains. Victims' families are allowed to participate in the exhumation proceedings in which their relative is to be found. The competent authorities for identification, exhumation and investigation must provide the bodies or remains to the affected family in conditions of dignity, and the Ministry of Social Protection must ensure that the relatives of the victims who are identified receive psychosocial care. The Law further provides that, ...click to read more

Treatment

Mechanism Date

October 20, 2010

Country

Colombia

Theme

Reparations, Truth

Keywords: Memorialisation | Reparation | Compensation

Act on Missing Persons in the Homeland War

The Law provides that persons who went missing in the Homeland War between 1991 and 1995, including those who disappeared, are presumed to be alive until their burial place is identified or until they are declared dead following proof of their death. It also provides that family members of a missing person have the right to learn about their whereabouts or to find their mortal remains, and also to learn about the circumstances of their disappearance or death. The Ministry for Croatian Homeland War veterans is required to provide them with available information regarding the progress and results of the ...click to read more

Treatment

Mechanism Date

July 12, 2019

Country

Croatia

Theme

Truth

Keywords: Forensics / DNA | Protection of witnesses/victims | Search

Law on missing persons

The Law defines as missing persons those whose whereabouts are unknown to their family members, and who based on reliable information were reported missing between 1 January 1998 and 31 December 2000, as a consequence of the war in Kosovo. It provides that everyone has the right to know about the fate of their missing family member(s), including their whereabouts, the circumstances of their death and their burial place, and the right to recover their mortal remains. It further provides that nobody shall be exposed to criminal liability, threats or violence for inquiring about the fate or whereabouts of their ...click to read more

Treatment

Mechanism Date

August 29, 2011

Country

Kosovo

Theme

Truth, Reparations

Keywords: Legal status | Protection of witnesses/victims | Satisfaction