AFAD Remembers and Honors the Men, Women and Children Victims of Enforced Disappearance in Asia and The World

On the 32nd year of the commemoration of the International Week of the Disappeared, the Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances (AFAD) joins the families and friends of victims of enforced disappearance in remembering, paying tribute and restoring the dignity of the men, women and children who were made to disappear in Asia and the rest of the world.

Clarion Call of Families of Desaparecidos: Repair Damage Done, Restitute Honor and Dignity

AFAD and FIND Joint Statement on the International Week of the Disappeared

Every last week of May, organizations of the families of the disappeared and human rights advocates worldwide commemorate the International Week of the Disappeared (IWD) following the Latin American tradition which successfully brought to international attention the global phenomenon of enforced disappearance and the imperative for a global response.

Enforced disappearance is a continuing affront to human dignity, civil rights and liberties as well as violations of economic, social and cultural rights. It continues to inflict untold sufferings not only on victims but also on their families. It is committed when a person is deprived of liberty by the state or agents of the state, and information on the whereabouts of the missing is concealed or denied.

Remembering Desaparecidos: Indonesia

The most well-known cases of enforced disappearances in Indonesia are those involving pro-democracy activists who disappeared from 1997 - 1998. This was the height of the anti-dictatorship movement against General Suharto who ruled Indonesia for 32 years. Many individuals were abducted by the military because of their political activism towards achieving genuine democracy in their country. This movement soon led to the ouster of Suharto and the dawn of a new democratic Indonesia.

RA 10353: An Act Defining and Penalizing Enforced or Involuntary Disappearance

Here are the actual text of Republic Act 10353 entitled "An Act Defining and Penalizing Enforced or Involuntary Disappearance"

Also included is the Implementing Rules and Regulations and its Annex A: Inquiry into a reported disappeared person’s whereabouts.