UN Confirms Forced Salvador Disappearances
A UN mission confirmed continuing forced disappearing of at least 5,500 people in El Salvador Tuesday, and highlighted impunity of those accused of serious human rights violations.

A preliminary report by the working group on forced disappearances was given to members of the UN Human Rights Council and delegations observing the fourth Ordinary Session in Geneva.

The investigation, which ended work some weeks ago, originally involved a reported 2,161 cases, but a special commission informed that the number of cases is presently estimated at more than 5,500.

The mission also received data on the impunity of the authors of various human rights violations, indicating the criminals are not only free, but are not under investigation, something the group regarded as an obstacle to justice and truth.

The mission recalled to legislative and executive authorities that such accused should not benefit from amnesty or any other measures to exonerate them from any penal procedure.

Finally, it called on the Salvadoran Legislature to revise the established penalties for those guilty of forced disappearances, which are now lighter than for other crimes.