# Disact

> Disappearing Act


## Posts

- [New Position: Post-Doctoral Researcher (Full-Time)](https://disacterc.com/2026/03/new-position-post-doctoral-researcher-full-time/): Disappearance-like practices in the post-9/11 context Duration: 4 months (possibility to renew after evaluation) Salary (gross): 1750 – 2600 Euros (according to experience and qualifications)Start date: As soon as possible, no later than 1 JuneProject: DISACT (ERC-funded project on enforced disappearances)Host Institution: University of Cyprus The ERC-funded DISACT project (https://disacterc.com/) headed by Prof. Iosif Kovras (kovras.iosif@ucy.ac.cy) seeks to appoint a full-time Post-Doctoral Researcher to examine the transformation and transnationalization of disappearance-related practices in the post-9/11 context. The project investigates how the crime of enforced disappearances has evolved in response to the codification and institutionalization of international accountability mechanisms. The successful candidate […]
- [New Position: Pre-Doctoral Researcher (Full-Time)](https://disacterc.com/2026/03/new-position-pre-doctoral-researcher-full-time-2/): Historical diffusion of enforced disappearances (Algerian War) Duration: 4 months (possibility to renew after evaluation) Salary (gross): 1750 – 2600 Euros (according to experience and qualifications)Start date: As soon as possible, no later than 1 June 2026Project: DISACT (ERC-funded project on enforced disappearances)Host Institution: University of Cyprus The ERC-funded project DISACT (https://disacterc.com/) headed by Prof. Iosif Kovras (kovras.iosif@ucy.ac.cy) invites applications for a full-time Pre-Doctoral Researcher to contribute to research on the historical emergence and diffusion of enforced disappearance as an international crime. The position is embedded in a larger interdisciplinary team working at the intersection of political science, law and […]
- [New Position: Pre-Doctoral Researcher (Full-Time)](https://disacterc.com/2026/03/new-position-pre-doctoral-researcher-full-time/): Legal codification of enforced disappearances (Latin America) Duration: 1 year (possibility to renew after evaluation) Salary (gross): 1750 – 2600 Euros (according to experience and qualifications)Start date: As soon as possible, no later than 1 June 2026Project: DISACT (ERC-funded project on enforced disappearances)Host Institution: University of Cyprus The ERC-funded DISACT project (https://disacterc.com/) headed by Prof. Iosif Kovras (kovras.iosif@ucy.ac.cy) invites applications for a full-time Pre-Doctoral Researcher to support research on the legal consolidation of the crime of enforced disappearances in Latin America and its subsequent international codification. The successful candidate will contribute to comparative research on truth commissions, landmark jurisprudence, and […]
- [Interdisciplinary Workshop on Enforced Disappearances (3–4 November 2025, UCY)](https://disacterc.com/2025/10/interdisciplinary-workshop-on-enforced-disappearances-3-4-november-2025-ucy/): We are excited to announce our first public interdisciplinary workshop on enforced disappearances. The event brings together leading voices from law, political science, sociology, history, forensics, and art to explore how societies confront disappearance, memory, and justice—with cases from Northern Ireland, Libya, Kurdistan, and Cyprus. Dates: 3–4 November 2025Venue: University of Cyprus — LRC 014 & Leventis B108Cost: Free (please register in advance for catering)Register here The schedule in short Monday, 3 November — LRC 014 (except evening debate) 11:00–13:00 · Historical and Political Perspectives Chair: Dr. Aphrodite PapachristodoulouSpeakers: Dr. Alexandros Zachariades, Prof. Gerasimos Tsourapas, Prof. Bahar Baser, Dr. Nikandros […]
- [International Day of Non-Violence: Carrying Forward Gandhi’s Legacy](https://disacterc.com/2025/10/international-day-of-non-violence-carrying-forward-gandhis-legacy/): On October 2, the world honoured the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi, reaffirming the commitment to peace, dignity, and justice through the International Day of Non-Violence. Yet non-violence is not limited to the absence of physical harm. It requires confronting structural forms of violence, exposing their mechanisms, and building systems that prevent their recurrence. Enforced disappearances epitomise this challenge. They are violence against victims—removed from both public life and official record. They are violence against families—condemned to uncertainty and anguish. And they are violence against communities—fracturing trust and obstructing reconciliation across generations. Through the ERC-funded DISACT project, we investigate how enforced […]
- [Academic Outreach: PRIF Workshop on Humanitarian Military Interventions and Peacekeeping (15–16 September 2025)](https://disacterc.com/2025/09/academic-outreach-prif-workshop-on-humanitarian-military-interventions-and-peacekeeping-15-16-september-2025/): On 15–16 September 2025, DISACT team member Nikandros Ioannidis participated in the workshop “Humanitarian Military Interventions and Peacekeeping Under Fire,” organised by the Peace Research Institute Frankfurt (PRIF) and supported by the German Foundation for Peace Research. The workshop aimed to advance comparative empirical research on humanitarian military interventions, Responsibility to Protect (R2P) missions, and robust peacekeeping operations. Nikandros presented a co-authored paper with Iosif Kovras (University of Cyprus) entitled “Shifting Shadows: The Impact of International Accountability on Repertoires of Violence in Conflict Zones.” The study examined how international accountability mechanisms, particularly UN peacekeeping operations, influence the tactical choices of […]
- [International Day of Peace: Confronting the Hidden Crime of Enforced Disappearances](https://disacterc.com/2025/09/international-day-of-peace-confronting-the-hidden-crime-of-enforced-disappearances/): On September 21, the world observed the International Day of Peace, a United Nations–sanctioned day first declared in 1981. Conceived as a moment to “strengthen the ideals of peace and alleviate the tensions and causes of conflict,” it offers an annual opportunity to reflect on both the meaning of peace and the obstacles that continue to stand in its way. One of the most pressing of these obstacles is the practice of enforced disappearance—among the gravest human rights violations of our time. The European Research Council–funded project Disappearing Act (DISACT) confronts this issue by investigating how enforced disappearances have been […]
- [Academic Outreach: ECPR General Conference 2025 (26–29 August 2025)](https://disacterc.com/2025/09/academic-outreach-ecpr-general-conference-2025-26-29-august-2025/): From 26 to 29 August 2025, DISACT team member Nikandros Ioannidis participated in the ECPR General Conference, hosted at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. Nikandros presented two papers: The presentations reflected DISACT’s dual focus on digital repression and transitional justice, while also engaging with the contemporary significance of enforced disappearances in international law and practice. Participation in the conference offered valuable opportunities for academic exchange and constructive feedback.
- [Academic Outreach: EISA PEC 2025 Conference (25–29 August 2025)](https://disacterc.com/2025/09/academic-outreach-eisa-pec-2025-conference-25-29-august-2025/): From 25 to 29 August 2025, DISACT team member Alexandros Zachariades participated in the EISA PEC 2025 conference, held at the University of Bologna. Alexandros presented a paper on small state status-building amid conflict in the Middle East, focusing on the foreign policy responses of Cyprus and Qatar to the war in Gaza. The paper examined how both states have sought to enhance their international status by positioning themselves as “useful” and “good” actors. Pertinent to the work of DISACT, the presentation highlighted Cyprus’s failure to leverage its expertise in investigating enforced disappearances as a diplomatic tool, despite the ongoing […]
- [Academic Outreach: 15th Annual Conference of the European Political Science Association (26-28 June 2025)](https://disacterc.com/2025/07/academic-outreach-15th-annual-conference-of-the-european-political-science-association-26-28-june-2025/): On June 26, DISACT researchers Christos Christodoulou and Nikandros Ioannidis participated in the 15th Annual Conference of the European Political Science Association (EPSA), held in Madrid. They presented two papers: Both studies were co-authored with Iosif Kovras (PI, DISACT) and Costas Tziouvas, and form part of our broader investigation into political violence, authoritarian repression, and the legacies of enforced disappearances. This participation reflects DISACT’s ongoing commitment to producing interdisciplinary, policy-relevant research and contributing to international dialogue on human rights and transitional justice.
- [Algeria’s Independence and the Legacy of Disappearances](https://disacterc.com/2025/07/algerias-independence-and-the-legacy-of-disappearances/): 🗓️ 5 July 2025 – 63 Years Since Algerian Independence✍️ By Cian Cooney, for Dis-Act In 1962, Algeria officially gained independence from French colonial rule. Across the country, celebrations erupted — filled with hope for a new beginning. Historian Malika Rahal described Algeria at that moment as “the country of the future.” Yet behind these jubilant scenes, a darker reality was unfolding. As the new Algerian state was born, many of the so-called ‘losers’ of the war — including Harkis (Algerians who had fought for France) and members of the settler population — were subjected to mass killings and disappearances. […]
- [Academic Outreach: 50th Annual Conference of the British International Studies Association (18-20 June 2025)](https://disacterc.com/2025/06/academic-outreach-50th-annual-conference-of-the-british-international-studies-association-18-20-june-2025/): From 18 to 20 June 2025, DISACT team members participated in the 50th Annual Conference of the British International Studies Association (BISA), held at the Europa Hotel in Belfast. Nikandros Ioannidis and Iosif Kovras presented their paper titled “The Afterlife of Violence: Strategic Exhumations in Post-Conflict Settings,” co-authored with Marisol Intriago-Leiva, and Maria Mikelide. The conference provided an opportunity to share ongoing research and engage with international scholars.
- [Recruitment: Pre/Post-Doctoral Researcher in International Law and Human Rights](https://disacterc.com/2025/05/disact-recruitment-call-for-pre-or-post-doctoral-researcher-in-international-law-and-human-rights/): The DISACT project at the University of Cyprus is inviting applications for a Pre/Post-Doctoral Researcher position in the fields of International Law, Human Rights, and the Crime of Disappearances. The position is based in Nicosia, Cyprus, and offers an opportunity to contribute to an interdisciplinary research team funded by the European Research Council (ERC).Applications are open until 30 May 2025. For more information and to apply, visit here.
- [Academic Outreach: HONORLOGIC Conference (6–8 April 2025)](https://disacterc.com/2025/05/titledisact-participation-at-the-honorlogic-meeting/): From 6 to 8 April 2025, DISACT researcher Elpida Vasiliou participated in the HONORLOGIC Meeting held in Rethymno, Greece. Vasiliou presented on “Relatives’ Perspective on Transitional Justice Mechanisms,” based on an article co-authored with Nikandros Ioannidis and Iosif Kovras.During the meeting, DISACT researchers received valuable feedback from an interdisciplinary group of scholars and explored new ideas related to social, political, and cultural issues across the Mediterranean region.
- [Workshop: Internal Research Progress (March 2025)](https://disacterc.com/2025/05/workshop-internal-research-progress/): In March 2025, DISACT held an internal Research Progress Workshop at the University of Cyprus, bringing together its research team to present and discuss ongoing work. The workshop covered research on the contemporary dimensions of enforced disappearances, the development of datasets on missing persons, the impact of violent events on perceptions of insecurity, transitional justice perspectives, and the historical logic of disappearances during conflict.Participants included Iosif Kovras, Christos Christodoulou, Constantinos Tziouvas, Nikandros Ioannidis, Antonis Charalambous, Vasilis Manavopoulos, Evren Celal, Ibrahim Unvan, Alexandros Zachariades, Elpida Vasileiou, and Cian Cooney.The workshop provided an opportunity for team members to review research progress, exchange […]
- [Public Outreach: School Presentation on Enforced Disappearances (March 2025)](https://disacterc.com/2025/05/disact-public-outreach-school-presentation-on-enforced-disappearances/): In March 2025, DISACT Research Associate Alexandros Zachariades delivered a presentation on enforced disappearances and political violence to high school students at the Lyceum “Giannakis Taliotis” in Pafos. The session introduced the DISACT project, explained the selection of Cyprus as a case study, and outlined the interdisciplinary research approach and challenges encountered during the investigation. The presentation concluded with an open discussion, offering students the opportunity to ask questions and engage with the research topics.
- [Talk: Committee on Missing Persons at the University of Cyprus (10 March 2025)](https://disacterc.com/2025/05/disact-hosts-the-committee-on-missing-persons-cmp-talk-at-the-university-of-cyprus/): On 10 March 2025, DISACT hosted a talk by the Committee on Missing Persons (CMP) at the University of Cyprus. CMP members Pierre Gentile (United Nations Member), Hakkı Müftüzade (Turkish Cypriot Member), and Leonidas Pantelides (Greek Cypriot Member) shared insights into the processes and challenges involved in investigating cases of enforced disappearances. The talk was followed by a Q&A session, offering students the opportunity to engage directly with the CMP members and deepen their understanding of transitional justice efforts in Cyprus.
- [Public Outreach: Online Seminar on Political Violence and the Disappeared (29 January 2025)](https://disacterc.com/2025/05/disact-participation-at-the-online-seminar-political-violence-and-the-disappeared/): On 29 January 2025, DISACT researcher Nikandros Ioannidis participated in the online seminar “Political Violence and the Disappeared.” Ioannidis presented the article “The Afterlife of Disappearances: A Forensic Approach to the Study of Clandestine Violence.”The seminar also featured a presentation by Miguel Moctezuma titled “Interpreting Nature to Locate the Disappeared: Influencing Search Practices in Jalisco, Mexico.”
- [Public Outreach: Panel Discussion on Truth Commission for the Missing in Cyprus (22–23 January 2025)](https://disacterc.com/2025/05/disact-participation-in-the-panel-discussion-truth-commission-for-the-missing-in-cyprus/): On 22–23 January 2025, DISACT Principal Investigator Iosif Kovras participated in the panel discussion “Truth Commission for the Missing in Cyprus: Possible or Feasible?” held at the University of Warwick. Kovras contributed to discussions on the critical role of truth commissions in reconciliation processes. The panel was part of a broader series of events co-organized by the Cyprus Peace and Dialogue Center (CPDC), Truth Now, and Warwick University’s Peace Return Project, aimed at promoting dialogue, reconciliation, and sustainable peace in Cyprus.
- [Award: Iosif Kovras Receives Best Article Prize from the European Journal of International Relations (2024)](https://disacterc.com/2025/05/iosif-kovras-receives-best-article-award-from-the-european-journal-of-international-relations/): In 2024, Iosif Kovras, Principal Investigator of DISACT, received the Best Article Prize from the European Journal of International Relations for his paper titled “Technologies of Justice.” The award recognizes his significant contributions to the study of political violence, transitional justice, and human rights.
- [Academic Outreach: ANIME Conference: Conflict, Memory & Reconstruction (23–24 September 2024)](https://disacterc.com/2025/05/disact-participation-at-the-anime-conference-conflict-memory-reconstruction/): On 23–24 September 2024, DISACT Principal Investigator Iosif Kovras participated in the ANIME Conference, held at the University of Strasbourg, France. Kovras presented his paper titled “Missing, Exhumations and Dealing with the Past: Lessons from Cyprus.” The conference brought together scholars working on issues of memory, reconstruction, and post-conflict transitions.
- [Public Outreach: EISA Voices Podcast with Iosif Kovras (2024)](https://disacterc.com/2025/05/disact-media-feature-eisa-voices-podcast-with-iosif-kovras/): In 2024, Iosif Kovras, Principal Investigator of DISACT, was featured in the EISA Voices podcast, discussing the transformative role of forensic technologies in addressing societies’ violent pasts. The conversation explored how forensic science is reshaping approaches to truth, memory, and transitional justice.
- [Team's Christmas Lunch and End-of-Year Reflections (December 2024)](https://disacterc.com/2025/05/disact-team-christmas-lunch-and-end-of-year-reflections/): In December 2024, the DISACT team gathered to celebrate the holiday season with a Christmas lunch. The event provided an opportunity to reflect on the team’s achievements over the past year and to look ahead to upcoming research milestones. The festive gathering marked a moment of appreciation, collaboration, and renewed energy for the exciting work ahead.
- [New Publication: Strategic Disinterment and the Reconstruction of the Missing in Cyprus (2024)](https://disacterc.com/2025/05/new-publication-strategic-disinterment-and-the-reconstruction-of-the-missing-in-cyprus/): DISACT researchers published new findings in Political Geography (Volume 115, 2024). The article, authored by Maria Mikellide, Romanos Lyritsas, Nikandros Ioannidis, and Iosif Kovras, is titled “Explaining Strategic Disinterment: Forensics and the Reconstruction of the Missing in Cyprus.” The study examines the strategies behind post-conflict exhumations and the afterlife of political violence.Read the article here.
- [Talk: Dr. Hugo Rojas at the University of Cyprus (16 September 2024)](https://disacterc.com/2025/05/talk-dr-hugo-rojas-at-the-university-of-cyprus/): On 16 September 2024, Dr. Hugo Rojas, Professor of Sociology of Law at Alberto Hurtado University and researcher at the Millennium Institute for Research on Violence and Democracy, visited the University of Cyprus. As part of the DISACT project, he delivered a lecture titled “The Chilean Experience on Transitional Justice” to students of the Department of Political Science. The talk explored the influence of U.S. and French repression strategies on the methods employed by armed forces during Latin American dictatorships. The visit formed part of ongoing collaborations within the DISACT project on issues of enforced disappearances and transitional justice.
- [Academic Outreach:  61st Annual Conference of the Conflict Research Society (4–6 September 2024)](https://disacterc.com/2025/05/disact-participation-at-the-61st-annual-conference-of-the-conflict-research-society-crs/): From 4–6 September 2024, DISACT researcher Nikandros Ioannidis participated in the 61st Annual Conference of the Conflict Research Society (CRS), held at the University of Edinburgh, Scotland. Ioannidis presented the article “The Afterlife of Violence: Strategic Exhumations in Post-Conflict Settings,” co-authored with Marisol Intriago-Leiva, Maria Mikelide, and Iosif Kovras. The conference provided an opportunity to share key findings from the DISACT project and to engage with broader academic communities working on conflict and post-conflict studies.
- [Academic Outreach: General Conference of the European Consortium for Political Research (12–15 August 2024)](https://disacterc.com/2025/05/disact-participation-at-the-2024-general-conference-of-the-european-consortium-for-political-research-ecpr/): From 12–15 August 2024, DISACT researcher Nikandros Ioannidis participated in the 2024 General Conference of the European Consortium for Political Research (ECPR), held at University College Dublin, Ireland. Ioannidis presented the article titled “Shifting Shadows: The Impact of International Accountability on Repertoires of Violence Dynamics in Conflict Zones.” co-authored with Iosif Kovras. The presentation explored how the presence of UN peacekeeping bases influences the dynamics and nature of violent incidents in conflict zones.
- [Academic Outreach: 14th Annual Conference of the European Political Science Association (4–6 July 2024)](https://disacterc.com/2025/05/disact-participation-at-the-14th-annual-conference-of-the-european-political-science-association-epsa/): From 4–6 July 2024, DISACT researcher Nikandros Ioannidis participated in the 14th Annual Conference of the European Political Science Association (EPSA), held in Köln, Germany. Ioannidis presented the paper titled “Shifting Shadows: The Impact of International Accountability on Repertoires of Violence Dynamics in Conflict Zones,” co-authored with Iosif Kovras.
- [Fieldwork: Investigating Enforced Disappearances in Chile (2024)](https://disacterc.com/2025/05/disact-fieldwork-investigating-enforced-disappearances-in-chile/): In 2024, Principal Investigator Iosif Kovras conducted fieldwork in Chile as part of DISACT’s research activities. The visit included exploring final resting places of identified victims and visiting the Museum of Memory and Human Rights. The fieldwork aims to deepen understanding of the narratives and contexts behind enforced disappearances.
- [Workshop: Ethics and Safety in Research (13–14 December 2023)](https://disacterc.com/2025/05/workshop-ethics-and-safety-in-research/): On 13–14 December 2023, DISACT held its first in-person workshop at the University of Cyprus. The event focused on ethics and safety in research, marking an important milestone in strengthening collaborative practices and research standards within the project.
- [Team Meeting: Launch of a Five-Year Journey (2023)](https://disacterc.com/2025/05/disact-first-team-meeting-launch-of-a-five-year-journey/): In 2023, DISACT researchers gathered for their first official team meeting, marking the beginning of a five-year project dedicated to investigating the crime of enforced disappearances. The meeting was held in Nicosia, Cyprus, and included a symbolic group photo in front of a UN checkpoint, reflecting the project’s interdisciplinary spirit and commitment to collaborative research across divided societies.

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- [About](https://disacterc.com/about/): Disappearing Act: Reconstructing the Crime of Disappearances in Times of Political Violence (DISACT) DISACT is a research project funded by the European Research Council (ERC) that investigates enforced disappearances in the context of political violence. In 2020, an estimated 1,000 people were forcibly disappeared every day across more than 95 countries (UN, 2021). These disappearances leave families in a state of prolonged uncertainty, obstruct justice, and challenge efforts to preserve historical memory. Despite their widespread use by governments and armed groups, little is known about how the crime of enforced disappearance was invented, how it spread globally, or what motivates the […]
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- [Home](https://disacterc.com/): DISACT Disappearing Act DISACT is a 5 year ERC – Funded Project (consolidator grant: 101086935, 2023-2028). It investigates the logic of the crime of disappearances in repressive and (post)conflict settings. We aim to shed light on the historical emergence and (global) diffusion of the crime, as well as the motives driving violent actors to use disappearances in their repertoire of violence. Our Research DISACT investigates one of the most severe and puzzling human rights violations of our time: enforced disappearances in contexts of political violence. These are not just acts of repression—they are also used to control populations, send political messages, and erase […]


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