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The enforced disappearance of newborns, infants and children

Motion for a resolution | Doc. 16285 | 17 October 2025

Signatories:
Ms Laura CASTEL, Spain, UEL ; Ms Gabrielle CATHALA, France, UEL ; Ms Sevilay ÇELENK, Türkiye, UEL ; Ms Sophia CHIKIROU, France, UEL ; Mr Vladimir ĐORĐEVIĆ, Serbia, ECPA ; Mr Emmanuel FERNANDES, France, UEL ; Mr Vinzenz GLASER, Germany, UEL ; Mr Antonio GUTIÉRREZ LIMONES, Spain, SOC ; Ms Arusyak JULHAKYAN, Armenia, EPP/CD ; Mr Ettore Antonio LICHERI, Italy, UEL ; Mr George LOUCAIDES, Cyprus, UEL ; Ms Alessandra MAIORINO, Italy, UEL ; Ms Luz MARTINEZ SEIJO, Spain, SOC ; Mr Conor MURPHY, Ireland, UEL ; Mr Berdan ÖZTÜRK, Türkiye, UEL ; Mr Sigurður Helgi PÁLMASON, Iceland, SOC ; Mr Georgios STAMATIS, Greece, EPP/CD ; Mr Constantin STARÎŞ, Republic of Moldova, UEL ; Ms Susanna VELA, Andorra, SOC ; Ms Albana VOKSHI, Albania, EPP/CD

The enforced disappearance of newborns, infants and children, often for purposes of trafficking or illegal adoption, has occurred in several Council of Europe member States for decades. In Spain, since the Civil War and throughout the dictatorship, thousands of republican women and female prisoners were targeted, with cases continuing after democracy was established. Comparable patterns have been reported in Ireland, Belgium, Norway, Serbia and, most recently, in the context of the Russian Federation’s war against Ukraine.

The Parliamentary Assembly Resolution 2425 (2022) “Ending enforced disappearances on the territory of the Council of Europe”, underlines that such practices constitute a particularly grave violation of human rights, affecting both the victims and their families. The Committee of Ministers agrees and considers that these practices may amount to crimes against humanity.

The continuing lack of comprehensive data, fragmented investigations, and the denial or minimisation of these crimes in certain member States are regrettable.

There is an urgent need to address the specific dimension of newborn and child disappearances, which involve falsification of identity, loss of family ties, and profound psychological trauma.

Accordingly, the Assembly should investigate how:

  • member States can effectively document and investigate cases of newborn and child disappearances, declassify relevant archives, and establish accessible DNA registries;
  • Committee of Ministers and the Steering Committee on Human Rights (CDDH) can assess the need for additional legal instruments, including non-binding guidelines or a binding protocol, to protect against identity theft and illegal adoption;
  • a dedicated task force on enforced disappearances of children can be established to co-ordinate national and international efforts, monitor compliance, and support victims;
  • a European or world conference to share data, best practices, and legal reforms can be organised;
  • member States can provide victims with legal, psychological and identity-restoration support, recognising their right to truth and reparation.