Annex II PRACTICAL INFORMATION: THE UNITED NATIONS WORKING GROUP ON ENFORCED OR INVOLUNTARY DISAPPEARANCES IN A NUTSHELL What is the United Nations Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances? The Working Group was established in 1980 by the Commission on Human Rights. Its mandate is to assist families in determining the fate and whereabouts of their relatives. The Working Group is a channel of communication between the families and the Governments concerned, aiming to ensure that individual cases which families have brought to its attention are investigated by domestic authorities with the objective of clarifying the fate or whereabouts of disappeared persons. In cases of intimidation, reprisals, harassment of relatives of disappeared people, human rights defenders or advocates and lawyers working on cases of disappearance, the Working Group calls on the Governments concerned to take steps to protect all the fundamental rights of the persons concerned. Furthermore, the Working Group monitors the implementation of the 1992 Declaration on the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance. The Working Group does not: – Directly investigate individual cases; – Directly adopt measures of protection against reprisals; – Establish individual or State responsibility in cases of enforced 27