AFAD Commemorates the 4th Anniversary of Sombath Somphone’s Disappearance

Manila, 15 December 2016 – Today marks the 4th anniversary of the disappearance of Sombath Somphone, a community development worker in Laos and recipient of the distinguished Ramon Magsaysay Award for emergent leadership..

ACCEPTANCE SPEECH

ACCEPTANCE SPEECH
Asian Democracy and Human Rights Award
Mary Aileen D. Bacalso, Secretary-General
Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances
Taipei, Taiwan
December 10, 2016

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Her Excellency President of Taiwan, President Tsai Ing-wen, Chairman of the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy, Mr. Su Jia-chyuan, President of the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy, Mr. Hsu Shu-chien, friends, ladies and gentlemen,

HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS: AMIDST THREATS

MANILA, 10 December 2016 - On this day, the 68th anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), the Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances (AFAD) pays tribute to all human rights defenders (HRDs) in the world.

While disrespect for basic human rights continues to increase and victims in all parts of the globe are still fighting for truth and justice, today, in commemorating Human Rights Day, the Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances (AFAD) acknowledges and recognizes the fundamental work carried out by human rights defenders everywhere - particularly in SouthEast and South Asia.

Philippines: Congress should block effort to reintroduce death penalty

5 December 2016

We, the undersigned organizations and individuals, express serious concern over the rapid efforts by members of the House of Representatives of the Philippines to adopt a bill restoring the death penalty in the country.  

On 29 November 2016, the Sub-Committee on Judicial Reforms of the House Committee on Justice, which is chaired by Congressman Marcelino “Ching” Veloso, approved a bill restoring the death penalty in the Philippines by railroading the proceedings in the committee and ignoring important questions from other lawmakers questioning the need for the legislation or its urgent passage.