Barcelona will host the International Meeting of Women Searchers from 6 to 10 March 2027. Organised by ICIP, the meeting will bring together women searchers from around the world to exchange experiences and strengthen the global struggle against enforced disappearances. The call for participants is open until 13 September 2026.
In the absence of truth, justice and reparation that so often characterises cases of enforced disappearance, many women take on the search for their loved ones and become leading actors in the defence of human rights and peacebuilding. This work, however, is not without risks: searchers frequently face institutional indifference, stigmatisation, criminalisation and, in some cases, threats or attacks.
With the aim of creating a space for exchange and mutual learning among women searchers from different contexts, ICIP is organising this meeting as part of the BCN4Peace project and in collaboration with a broad network of organisations and institutions. The initiative seeks to foster the sharing of knowledge, challenges and common strategies in response to a phenomenon that affects thousands of people around the world.
The meeting follows up on one of the calls to action emerging from the World Congress on Enforced Disappearances (Geneva, 2025) and also forms part of the commemorations of CED20, marking the twentieth anniversary of the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance.
A working space with a gender perspective
The meeting is conceived primarily as a working space among participants, featuring contributions by women searchers themselves, training workshops and collaborative knowledge-building activities, complemented by events open to the public. It will also include a dedicated discussion on the gendered impact of enforced disappearances, drawing on the General Comment of the Committee on Enforced Disappearances on this issue.
Participants will include women searchers, representatives of international organisations, experts and individuals accompanying search processes.
Call for participants open until 13 September
Women searchers interested in taking part are invited to submit their applications through this online form by 13 September 2026. Participants will be selected on the basis of diversity criteria, including geographical context, age and experience. Previous participation in projects promoted by ICIP or partner organisations will also be taken into consideration. Priority will be given to applicants who are able to participate in Spanish, English or French, the working languages of the meeting.
The preparation of the meeting is currently supported by Baketik Fundazioa, Peace Brigades International – Colombia, Casa Amèrica Catalunya, CEDI, CEPAD, OIDHACO, REDS, SODEPAU, SOS Bebés Robados, and Taula per Mèxic. ICIP also invites other organisations to join this initiative by providing financial support, funding travel costs, contributing to the conceptual development of the meeting or helping disseminate the call for participants.
For further information, either about the application process or opportunities for collaboration, please contact icip@icip.cat.
