In Latin America the struggle against forced disappearances started. The Mothers of Plaza de Mayo became yardstick for many people in other countries, e.g. Turkey, where the struggle started with the campaign to save the life of Hasan Ocak. He had been disappeared on March 21, 1995 due to his political activities. 57 days after his kidnapping he was found by his relatives and friends on a grave yard for none identified dead people. His body showed severe marks of torture. The relatives and friends of Hasan Ocak organised their struggle against disappearances according to the struggle of the Madres del Plaza de Mayo. The so-called „Saturday Mothers“started their weekly vigils May 27, 1995 in front of the University of Galatasaray in Istanbul.

ICAD campaigns and conferences

Out of the Hasan Ocak campaign the DMP – democratic struggle platform - was founded and organised together with many other organisations, like IHD (Human Right Association of Turkey), EKB, (Working Women), AGIF (federation of working immigrants from Turkey in Germany) the 1. International Conference against disappearances under custody under the name of „SUSMA“ (cry out) in Istanbul. The conference was attended by delegates from all over the world, many of whom were the families of ‘disappeared’ people. There were relatives from Chile, Uruguay, Colombia, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Iraq, Palestine, Turkey, Kurdistan, England, France, Germany and more than 100 members of syndicates, intellectuals, human right fighter. The conference was successful despite the prohibition of the conference by the Turkish authorities. It became clear to all participants that it is necessary to erect an international network to struggle against disappearances and other human right violations and ICAD International Committee against Disappearances was founded.

ICAD tries to co-ordinate and organise the struggle against disappearances on international level. For this purpose we organised international conferences in countries, where disappearances still occur or where the backer of this violation are situated. ICAD is aware that disappearances are international problems and that multi national companies play a significant role.

The 2nd conference took place from July 11 to 13, 1997 in Bogota/Columbia. It was organised together with ANDAS “Committee against disappearances and victims of state repression. 2 members of the catholic centre for science and education, CINEP, Elsa Alvarado and Mario Calderon, had been killed just before the conference on May 19.05.97 by death squads. Elsa Alvarado and Mario Calderon are members of honour of ICAD. 23 international delegates and 135 Colombian delegates participated in that conference. The demonstration “A light for Life” started the conference. The demonstration and the conference took place under police pressure, however found international acceptance by the media.

The 3rd conference took place in Manila/Philippines from May 14, to 21, 1999. It was organised together with KARAPATAN (Alliance to support human rights) and DESAPARECIDOS (Organisation of families and friends). During the 2 days exposure programme before the conference, participants could visualise reality of globalisation: Contradictions, poverty, virtual democracy and real terror. On May 17, - the international day for the disappeared - the conference started with a demonstration against disappearances. The conference was held under the motto: Globalisation and the worsening effects on human rights.

In Nuremberg/Germany our 4th conference took place from May 17 – 21, 2002. It was effected under the motto: “Globalisation: Human Rights obsolete? Disappearances, torture, military courts, isolation prisons, war, poverty….” We decided on Nuremberg as so-called “city of human rights”, because the first international tribunal against the Nazi war criminals was conducted. We chosed Germany, as for the first time we wanted to held a conference in a state, which is indirectly responsible for disappearances and other human right violations. During the work shops we analysed and discussed mechanisms of repression under conditions of neo-liberal globalisation.

What are Disappearances?

Disappearances are a special form of violence by the state against the people. A disappearance occurs when a person is arrested or detained without that detention being admitted by the state authorities, and without any information being given to the family or friends of the missing person. One of the huge horrors for the family of the disappeared is, not knowing the whereabouts of their loved ones, or even whether they are alive or dead.
Disappearances are state terrorism. The victim is usually tortured and killed. Sometimes their dead body is left to be found, more usually the body is hidden or destroyed. Only rarely does the victim return alive. The terror is targeted at opponents of state policy. Each disappeared victim is a warning to others in the political and social movements not to speak out. In this way the terror spreads.
Disappearances can only happen as the result of a conscious policy of the state, and if they are sanctioned at the very highest levels of the government and the military. In those countries that carry out disappearances there are Special Forces to carry out the operations, there are secret places of detention, methods of torture and disposal have been selected, and official representatives use various techniques of denial and counter-information. All these things require resources and co-ordination within the state apparatus. Disappearances are one of the many forms of state violation of human rights. States that carry out disappearances invariably do so as part of a wider counter-insurgency strategy. The context is an overt or covert ‘dirty war’ including the banning of organisations, detention of political prisoners, systematic torture, absence of fair trial, assassinations and massacres.

Why do Disappearances Occur?

Disappearances occur in countries where there is profound social injustice, where insecurity is the norm for the majority of the population. Inequality and injustice bring forth popular resistance movements The dominant minority directs its state apparatus in undemocratic and extra-legal operations against the people.
States that carry out disappearances do not operate alone; they have powerful allies that protect them in the international arena. In Latin America, the continent that gave birth to disappearances in modern times, the policy was initiated and has been widely supported by the United States. Under the twin guise of anti-communism and anti-terrorism from Vietnam to the Philippines, from Guatemala to Chile, the US instigated the disappearances policy.
All the states carrying out disappearances have escaped justice because there is no adequate provision in the international legal system to bring them to trial. This legal system is itself shaped in the interests of the US and other world powers. The powerful and rich nations of the world actively support regimes carrying out disappearances. As well as giving diplomatic and political protection to the perpetrators of disappearances, the rich nations supply the weapons and military training and, if their interests demand it, they intervene directly.
Most of the state regimes carrying out disappearances are closely linked with international capital such as arms suppliers, banks demanding loan repayments, agri-business, manufacturers using cheap labour, or multinationals that exploit oil and other natural resources. The dirty wars are bolstered by dirty deals, deals that channel the world’s wealth and the fruits of its labours into the hands of big business.

What ICAD stands for

ICAD is for the ending the state policy of disappearances in every country in the world.
ICAD is opposed to all disappearances.
ICAD strives for an independent and popular movement to stop disappearances and related abuses of human rights. We support the families and movements of the disappeared in their struggle for truth and justice.
ICAD recognises that our struggle to stop disappearances is inextricably linked with the people’s struggle to live free from torture, assassination, unfair trials, political imprisonment and massacres.
ICAD affirms the legitimacy and necessity of popular struggles for social justice. We work with those parties and movements fighting for social justice, and from whose ranks the disappeared have been taken. We encourage and support the collective responsibility of social and political movements to defend their members’ human rights.
ICAD is opposed to all forms of collaboration by the rich and powerful nations with state regimes that carry out disappearances - the supply of arms, trade and investment, and their refusal to grant political asylum to refugees.
ICAD is for the creation of independent tribunals of truth and justice. The perpetrators of disappearance are either members or auxiliaries of the state apparatus. The states that are the authors of disappearance also grant their agents impunity from criminal prosecution. Therefore it is
impossible to investigate, prosecute, try or punish those personally responsible for disappearances while relying on the permission and institutions of the responsible state.
ICAD strives to give a focus internationally to the struggle against disappearances. We will co-operate with all existing local, national and international organisations fighting against disappearances. Our intention is to consolidate and bring together movements affiliated together in one international, democratic platform of struggle.

How ICAD Works

ICAD will establish an international network of sections. Turkey, Switzerland, France, Britain, Netherlands, Germany and the Philippines already have ICAD sections. ICAD will support the creation of new national sections as required to struggle against disappearances.
ICAD holds an international congress at least once every two years in countries where disappearances occur to support local social movements and relatives of the disappeared.
ICAD produces analytical, factual and campaigning materials to publicise the struggle against disappearances.
ICAD will initiate campaigns in solidarity with the disappeared, their comrades and relatives. Especially during the “international weeks for the disappeared” from 17 to 31 May every year ICAD organises and supports activities.
ICAD supports initiatives for an international independent tribunal against the perpetrators.


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