IT News
Imphal, Jan 17:
The case of Laishram Kamalbabu, who has been missing since November 25, 2024, was brought to international attention by Amnesty International during the 1st World Congress on Enforced Disappearances held in Geneva from January 15 to 16, 2025.
According to a statement by Babloo Loitongbam, Executive Director of Human Rights Alert (HRA), the exhibition featured a poignant still photograph of Kamalbabu’s study table. The image depicted a calculator atop a diary, notebooks, and files, symbolizing the anguish of his family, their uncertainty about his fate, and their yearning for justice. The photograph was contributed by the Families of the Involuntarily Disappeareds’ Association, Manipur (FIDAM), and the Manipur International Youth Centre (MIYC).
The Congress saw participation from hundreds of civil society organizations, including associations of families, states, international bodies, and experts from 120 countries. Attendees engaged in discussions, workshops, and panel sessions aimed at finding solutions, sharing best practices, and amplifying the voices of those affected by enforced disappearances. The event was co-organized by the Coalition Against Enforced Disappearances (CEDI) in collaboration with several United Nations bodies, including the Committee on Enforced Disappearances (CED) and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).
Ms. Nada Al-Nashif, the United Nations Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, delivered the keynote address, urging participants to strengthen international cooperation and political commitment to combat the crime of enforced disappearances.
It was also noted that although India signed the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance in 2007, it has yet to ratify the treaty. The case of Kamalbabu, highlighted at the Congress, underscored the urgent need for action and accountability in such cases globally.