This paper examines the experiences of the activist families of thousands of Algerians who were forcibly disappeared during the country's 1992 - 2002 civil war in their efforts to locate the whereabouts of their loved ones. It looks at the causes behind the activists' successes and failures in demanding justice from the government and explores the impacts of the nationwide popular uprising that began in February 2019. The paper will be based on secondary research, including reports published by international and local human rights groups and local and international media sources, and will incorporate interviews conducted remotely with activists and advocates. Where appropriate, the paper will also compare the experiences of Algerian families of victims of enforced disappearances with families in other countries, in order to draw conclusions about the conditions under which human rights advocates do or do not succeed vis-a-vis national governments.