AFAD Commemorates Human Rights Day

Manila: The Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances (AFAD) commemorates the Human Rights Day, observed each year on the 10th of December. This day this year marks 70 years since the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and thus makes the day of greater significance.

This day is an opportunity to assess the situation of human rights across the world and to ascertain how hard the States must work to ensure basic human rights for every individual. Unfortunately, in Asia, the situation of human rights has been deteriorating with repressive regimes coming to power, institution of repressive state policies, institutionalized impunity for perpetrators of human rights violations and persecution of human rights defenders.

AFAD remembers Bangladeshi Diplomat Maroof Zaman on the 1st Anniversary of his Disappearance

Manila: The Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances (AFAD) remembers Maroof Zaman, a former diplomat from Bangladesh who was disappeared one year ago today.

Maroof Zaman is the former Bangladeshi ambassador to Qatar and Vietnam, Counsellor of the Bangladesh High Commission in the United Kingdom, former Additional Secretary of the Foreign Ministry and a retired Bangladesh Army Captain. Although he has never been politically active or charged with any offence, he was recalled from his last post as soon as the incumbent government of Bangladesh came to power, and was later forcibly retired.

AFAD Expresses Concern over the Intimidation of its Member Organization – Odhikar in Bangladesh

The Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances (AFAD) expresses grave concern over the deteriorating situation in Bangladesh ahead of the general election in December 2018 and the precarious position in which its member-organization, Odhikar is operating.

AFAD Expresses Concern over the Election of India, Philippines and Bangladesh in the United Nations Human Rights Council

18^th October 2018

The Asian Federation Against Enforced Disappearances (AFAD) expresses serious concern over the election of some of the 18 new member states into the United Nations Human Rights Council. Among the elected states of the Asia Pacific region, AFAD has membership from India, Bangladesh and the Philippines. These States have shown consistent disregard for human rights of their people and have been oppressive and authoritarian in their functioning instead of being democratic.