The Manipur International Youth Centre (MIYC) observed the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances on August 30 with a discussion and interaction programme at the Ojha Sanajaoba Memorial Hall, National Research Centre Building, Canchipur.
The programme was organised in connection with the international observance aimed at raising awareness about the plight of individuals who have disappeared against their will and the suffering endured by their families.
Speaking at the programme, MIYC president M.K. Saroj Khan said the observance held particular relevance to Manipur, where cases of people allegedly disappearing involuntarily continue to remain a matter of concern. He said the day should not be viewed merely as an international observance but as an occasion to remember those whose whereabouts remain unknown and to draw attention to the anguish faced by their families.
Saroj Khan stressed the need to keep the issue of enforced disappearances in public discourse and called for greater attention to the circumstances surrounding such cases. He said the continued uncertainty faced by families, who are left without information about the fate or whereabouts of their loved ones, constitutes a serious human rights concern.
The programme also featured Dr. Yumnam Premananda Singh, Head of the Department of Law, Manipur University, as the resource person. He spoke on the legal and human rights dimensions of enforced disappearances and the importance of accountability and protection of the rights of victims and their families.
The MIYC said the observance was intended to create greater public awareness about enforced disappearances and provide a platform for discussion on the legal, social and humanitarian issues associated with such cases.
