Journal of Disappearance Studies

The Journal of Disappearance Studies launches in 2025 and welcomes contributions that advance our collective understanding of the following key themes and explore new avenues for research, policy advocacy, and practice in addressing the legacies and ongoing tragedies of disappearance:

• Human Rights violations, including the responsibility of states, state-backed actors and non-state armed groups;
• Responses within the frameworks of domestic legal regimes, International Humanitarian Law and International Human Rights Law;
• Forensic techniques in the search for the disappeared;
• Transitional justice and the rights of victims of disappearance to justice, truth, reparation and nonrecurrence;
• Historical perspectives on disappearances;
• Psychological and emotional impact of disappearances;
• Social and political impact of disappearances;
• International solidarity and advocacy against disappearances;
• Activism and resistance in relation to disappearances;
• Gender and feminist perspectives on disappearances;
• Evolving dynamics of emerging forms of disappearance;
• Artistic responses to disappearances;
• Philosophical approaches to understanding disappearances;
• Theoretical framing of disappearances. 

To learn more about JDS see: https://bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/journals/journal-of-disappearance-studies/
Mailing list: https://bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/signup-bup-pp#journals  
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/bupjournals.bsky.social  

This journal aims to break new ground by providing a platform for research unearthing and critiquing the socio-political, cultural and economic factors shaping the dynamics of disappearance. We welcome submissions grounded in rigorous empirical research and thoughtful theoretical exploration, with an explicit engagement with policy, practice, and the everyday impact of disappearance. The Journal of Disappearance Studies welcomes the submission of original and review articles, interviews with artists, policymakers, practitioners, survivors and families along with book reviews. The journal brings together academics, policymakers, practitioners, families of the disappeared, victim-centred organisations, as well as artists and cultural producers for the co-production of interventions aimed at bringing about societal, instrumental and academic impact. The publication of ethical frameworks for researching and teaching disappearance as a pedagogical and public concern is also welcomed.

The journal seeks to publish contributions from all regions of the world. The journal highlights studies on disappearance across diverse disciplines and fields of study and encourages transdisciplinary approaches. Papers engaging with historical and contemporary instances of disappearance are encouraged, particularly those interrogating the lived experiences of individuals and communities affected by it. The Journal of Disappearance Studies will publish one special issue a year, highlighting themes showcased in the annual conference of the Disappearance Studies Network.

Submission Guidelines:

• Original articles should be between 6,000 and 8,000 words, including all tables and references. Authors should use five keywords describing their article, and provide an abstract of up to 250 words;
• Review articles summarise work in a particular area. They should include a 250-word abstract and be no longer than 9,000 words, including all tables and references;
• Interviews describing first-hand experiences to document testimonies of those affected by disappearance. These accounts should be no longer than 3,000 words. These should not include an abstract and have no more than 10 references. These pieces will be editor-reviewed;
• Poems, short essays, visual art and other artistic pieces: Please contact the editors for more information;
• Policy articles: Short policy briefings that explore key developments in policy design and implementation and may include policy recommendations. Policy articles should be no longer than 4,000 words. They do not include an abstract. These pieces will be editor-reviewed;
• Book reviews: Short pieces of 500–800 words that do not include an abstract. These submissions will be editor-reviewed. Book reviews should include a concise summary of the book’s main argument and subject matter, and assess its originality and contribution to its field and relevance.

Submission of Special Issue and Symposia Proposals

• The Journal of Disappearance Studies invites prospective guest editors to submit proposals for a Special Issue/ Symposia;
• Special issues are published once a year.

Please submit your article to https://www2.cloud.editorialmanager.com/jods/default2.aspx.

If you have any questions about the suitability of your article, please contact: jds-editorial@bristol.ac.uk

The Editorial Team
Bahar Baser (Durham University, UK), 
Roddy Brett (University of Bristol, UK), 
Élise Féron (Tampere University, Finland)
Veronica Hinestrova (Omega Research Foundation, Colombia)