UN Experts Urge Chile to Strengthen National Search Plan for Dictatorship-Era Disappearances

United Nations experts have called on Chile to preserve and strengthen efforts to uncover the truth behind enforced disappearances committed during the country’s military dictatorship, warning that many families are still waiting for answers more than five decades later.

The appeal was made by the UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances following a technical cooperation process with the Chilean Government focused on evaluating the country’s National Search Plan, launched in 2023.

The National Search Plan was created to clarify the circumstances surrounding the disappearance and deaths of victims of enforced disappearance during the dictatorship led by General Augusto Pinochet, which ruled Chile from 1973 to 1990.

UN Experts Praise Cooperation with Chile

The Working Group welcomed the Chilean Government’s collaboration throughout the technical review process, describing it as an example of constructive cooperation between a UN human rights mechanism and a member state.

According to the experts, the agreement allowed them to closely examine how the National Search Plan is being implemented while engaging directly with public officials, victims’ families, academics, and civil society organisations.

“We thank the Government of Chile for its collaboration in carrying out this technical cooperation, which we consider a good practice,” the Working Group said.

The experts noted that the process enabled detailed on-site discussions about ongoing challenges related to truth, justice, reparations, and the search for missing persons.

Progress Recognised in Search Efforts

The Working Group highlighted several positive developments under the National Search Plan.

Among the achievements praised were the creation of specialised human rights teams, the establishment of inter-institutional working groups, and progress made in classifying and digitising historical information linked to dictatorship-era disappearances.

The experts said these efforts are helping improve the country’s capacity to investigate past human rights violations and preserve historical memory.

The National Search Plan has been viewed as one of Chile’s most significant recent initiatives aimed at addressing unresolved crimes committed during the military dictatorship, when thousands of people were detained, tortured, executed, or forcibly disappeared.

Families Still Waiting for Answers

Despite progress, the UN experts stressed that much work remains unfinished.

“It is regrettable that, more than 50 years after the dictatorship first started, many families have not found their missing relatives or have yet to receive a response regarding search, truth, justice and reparations,” the Working Group said.

Human rights groups in Chile have long argued that many dictatorship-era crimes remain unresolved and that victims’ families continue to suffer from the lack of answers regarding the fate of their loved ones.

The experts warned against any weakening of the National Search Plan and emphasised the importance of ensuring long-term political commitment and institutional support.

“Therefore, it is important to continue making progress in the implementation of the National Search Plan and to ensure there are no setbacks,” they said.

Calls for Stronger Legal and Financial Support

The Working Group recommended several measures aimed at strengthening the effectiveness and sustainability of the National Search Plan.

Among the key recommendations was the establishment of a stronger legal framework to provide greater legal certainty and long-term stability for the programme.

The experts also stressed the need to retain experienced personnel who have developed specialised expertise in investigating enforced disappearances and human rights violations.

In addition, they called for sufficient and stable funding to ensure the plan can continue operating effectively.

“The Plan must have a legal framework that offers greater legal certainty; the teams that have already gained experience in this field must be retained, and a sufficient budget must be provided to ensure the efficiency, sustainability, and success of the Search Plan,” the Working Group stated.

Continuing International Cooperation

The Working Group confirmed that its technical opinion has already been formally submitted to the Chilean Government.

UN experts said they remain in contact with Chilean authorities regarding the continuation of cooperation and technical assistance linked to the search initiative.

The recommendations come at a time when Chile continues to confront the legacy of the Pinochet dictatorship, which remains one of the most painful and politically sensitive chapters in the country’s modern history.

Human rights organisations say continued efforts to uncover the truth about enforced disappearances are essential not only for victims’ families but also for preserving democratic accountability and historical memory.

The UN experts stressed that ongoing commitment to truth, justice, and reparations remains critical for Chile’s long-term reconciliation process.