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.
Search the PDF content in documents uploaded to the Enforced Disappearance Legal Database.
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National Reparation and Reconciliation Board
The National Reparation and Reconciliation Board was a decentralised public entity, subjected to the supervision of the President of the Republic through the Ministry of the Interior, functioning between 1992 and 1996. Its purpose was the coordination and execution of the recommendations of the National Truth and Reconciliation Commission, aimed at determining the whereabouts and circumstances of the disappearance or death of missing persons and of those whose remains have not been located, despite legal recognition of their death. The Board also collected background information and carried out investigations on cases in which it was not possible to form a ...click to read more
Keywords: Reparation | Satisfaction | Compensation | Reconciliation | Search | Rehabilitation
National Commission on Political Prisoners and Torture (Valech Commission)
The National Commission on Political Prisoners and Torture was created by the Ministry of Interior as an advisory body to the President of the Republic, to the aim of identifying the people who suffered deprivation of freedom and torture for political reasons by State agents or people at their service, in the period between September 1973 and March 1990. It was active between September 2003 and June 2005. The Commission did not make legal findings, but issued a final report on the basis of the evidence gathered through testimonies and information received. The Commission proposed to the President of the ...click to read more
Keywords: Reparation
Advisory Commission on the Classification of Disappeared Detainees, Victims of Political Executions and Victims of Political Imprisonment and Torture (Valech II Commission)
The Advisory Commission for the classification of Disappeared Detainees, Politically Executed Persons and Victims of Political Imprisonment and Torture was established by the President of the Republic. It was active between December 2009 and August 2011. Its mandate was to receive new information about possible cases of enforced disappearance, political execution, political imprisonment or torture that had not been recognised by the previous Commissions. The relatives of the victims recognised by the Commission were granted the same rights as those recognised by the National Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the National Reparation and Reconciliation Board.
Keywords: Access to information | Search
Commission of Investigation on Enforced Disappeared Persons
The Commission, established by the Government, has the following functions: a) investigates incidents of enforced disappearance with the aim of finding the truth and making it public; b) establishes the identity of victims and perpetrators; c) endeavors to bring about reconciliation; d) makes recommendations on reparations and on legal action to be taken against perpetrators; and e) provides the victims with identity cards. It may investigate into an incident if a complaint is filed by the victim or any person on their behalf, if it is informed of an incident from any source, and in any other case it deems ...click to read more
Keywords: Reparation | Duty to Investigate | Search | Legal status | Reconciliation
Republic of Croatia Government Commission for Persons Missing in the Homeland War
The Republic of Croatia Government commission for persons missing in the Homeland War is an advisory expert body. Its functions include: a) proposing to the government measures regarding the gathering of information on missing persons and on sites of mass and individual graves; b) monitoring activities undertaken by State administration bodies and other bodies whose responsibilities include dealing with the issue of missing persons, and proposing to the government measures for improving the effectiveness of their work; c) monitoring the work of international organisations whose responsibilities include dealing with the issue of missing persons, and making proposals to the government ...click to read more
Keywords: Search
Governmental Commission on Missing Persons
The Governmental Commission on Missing Persons is a governmental body which supervises and coordinates activities regarding the clarification of the fate of missing persons as a result of the Kosovo war, regardless of their ethnic background, religion, military or civil status. The Commission shall inform family members of the fate of missing persons, and shall cooperate with their associations, exercising its activity in cooperation with local and international institutions and organisations, the Public Prosecution Office, courts and other entities authorised to collect data on missing persons. The Commission also coordinates activities with international and local institutions on the construction of ...click to read more
Keywords: Search | Access to information
National Commission for the Missing and Forcibly Disappeared
The National Commission for the Missing and Forcibly Disappeared is established as an independent subject, with financial and administrative autonomy. Its functions include the following: a) receiving all tracing-related information available from competent authorities; b) conducting investigations to trace forcibly disappeared persons and to work for their release or the recovery of their remains; c) receiving the testimony of any person suspected of having information, while protecting their safety and security; d) receiving reports about forcibly disappeared persons, information on burial sites, and testimonies of relatives or witnesses; e) ensuring verification and storage of information pertaining to forcibly disappeared persons, ...click to read more
Keywords: Duty to Investigate | Legal status | Search | Forensics / DNA | Protection of witnesses/victims
Human Rights Commission
The Human Rights Commission has the power to inquire into complaints regarding infringements of human rights, including enforced disappearances. It may act on its own motion or on a complaint made by an aggrieved person, group of persons or person acting on behalf of an aggrieved person or group of persons. The Commission cannot inquire into any complaint which is the subject of proceedings pending in a court or has been determined by a court. For the purpose of an inquiry, the Commission has the power: a) to procure and receive evidence and to examine persons as witnesses; b) to ...click to read more
Keywords: Duty to Investigate
National Truth and Reconciliation Commission (Rettig Commission)
The Commission was created to investigate the situation of persons who were disappeared or were executed during the military dictatorship. It was active between April 1990 and February 1991. It was tasked with gathering evidence that could support the identification of the fate of disappeared victims and establish a complete picture of the atrocities; recommending reparations and legal and administrative measures to ensure non-repetition. In February 1991, the Commission issued a final report on the basis of the evidence gathered, and presented it to the President of the Republic and the general public.
Keywords: Guarantees of non-repetition