On the closure of Daily Amardesh newspaper in Bangladesh and the arrest and detention of its editor, Mr. Mahmudur Rahman

The Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances (AFAD) calls on the government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to uphold the civil and political rights of journalist Mahmudur Rahman to free expression and freedom from torture.

AFAD is very much alarmed by recent violations of human rights in the country such as the alleged killings of ten people in Fatikchhari sub-district of Chittagong on 11 April 2013, the same day that State authorities shut down the operations of Bangladeshi newspaper Daily Amardesh, seized its computers, and arrested its interim editor, Mr. Mahmudur Rahman.

Political will is key to end Enforced Disappearance in Thailand

AFAD Statement on the 9th Anniversary of Somchai’s Disappearance

It’s been nine years since the prominent Thai human rights lawyer, Mr. Somchai Neelaphaijit was forcibly taken and made to disappear on 12 March 2004 in Bangkok, Thailand. Before he disappeared, Mr. Somchai was assisting torture victims for legal remedies against Thai security forces in the southern province of Thailand.

For nine long years, Somchai’s families did practically everything to find him and to seek for justice by bringing his case at the national and international bodies. However, nine years have passed, until now justice remains very elusive.

Adding more insult and injury: Sri Lankan police blocks families of the disappearedin North Sri Lanka to attend Colombo protest

The Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances (AFAD) strongly condemns the Sri Lanka’s police and military forces’ halting of the families of the disappeared and human rights defenders in NorthSri Lanka from travelling to join a protest action in Colombo.

A mobilization of 600 people gathered in Vavuniya on 5 March to demand for truth and justice for their disappeared kin in a protest action organized by the Association of the Families Searching for theDisappeared Relatives set on the following day. The families initially intended to submit a petition to theUN office in Colombo to determine the fate of their loved ones.

Protecting Women from Enforced Disappearance

Joint Statement:

• Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances (AFAD)
• Families of Victims of Involuntary Disappearance (FIND)
• International Coalition Against Enforced Disappearances (ICAED)

Women everywhere are deeply affected by the global scourge of enforced disappearance. They are the wives, mothers, grandmothers, sisters, and daughters who are in the abysmal state of uncertainty and in perpetual search for their disappeared loved ones.  They are often left behind to bear the socio-economic and psycho-emotional brunt of enforced disappearance. In cases when women are made to disappear, theyare particularly at great risk of sexual and other forms of violence.