AFAD 25 Years Video Teaser

This AFAD video teaser is an opening salvo of the yearlong campaign and fight Against Enforced Disappearances and for the Protection, not Persecution, of Human Rights Defenders, across Asia.

a continuing crime
a disappearing act

What's Happening

Manila, 30 August 2016 – On this day, the International Day of the Disappeared (IDD), the Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances (AFAD) pays tribute to the thousands of disappeared people in Asia and all over the world, and to their families.

This day was first commemorated 36 years ago by the Latin American Federation of Associations of Relatives of Disappeared-Detainees (FEDEFAM) and was later adopted by similar formations in other parts of the world. Recognizing that the crime of enforced disappearance has reached a global scale, the United Nations officially declared this day as the International Day of the Disappeared in 2011.

Statement of Odhikar to commemorate the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances

Dhaka, August 30, 2016 – Enforced disappearance is both a violation of human rights and a crime against humanity. When a state is accused for committing enforced disappearance, it opens new challenges for human rights defenders. Recognizing these challenges and the fact that existing Treaties were not enough to fight this gross violation, the UN decided a new international treaty was needed to prevent the crime of enforced disappearance. The International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance was adopted by the UN General Assembly on December 20, 2006 and the treaty entered into force on December 23, 2010.  

Best Practices in Advocating Legislation Against Enforced Disappearances

An Inter-Regional Conference
Orchid Garden Suites,
620 Pablo Oca mpo St.,
Malate, Metro Manila, Philippi nes
17-20 September 2014

Manila, 29 July 2016 - On 27 July 2016, Gen. Wiranto was appointed by President Joko Widodo as Coordinating Minister for Politics, Law, and Security Affairs. AFAD expresses its deepest concerns towards this decision, as Gen. Wiranto is notorious of having been implicated in the commission of gross human rights violations in Indonesia as well as in Timor-Leste.

The Federation

AFAD map