AFAD COMMEMORATES THE INTERNATIONAL WEEK OF THE DISAPPEARED, 2021

Philippines (24^th to 30^th May, 2021): The Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances (AFAD) commemorates the International Week of the Disappeared, 2021 in solidarity with families of the disappeared searching for truth and justice. The struggle is made more arduous by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The enforcement of measures like lockdowns, self-quarantine, and prohibitions of public gatherings to prevent the spread of the virus has also led to further shrinking of an already limited civic space for freedom of expression, assembly, and association.

BANGLADESH: Government must conduct impartial and thorough investigations into all cases of enforced disappearance and bring the perpetrators to justice

A Joint Statement by the Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances (AFAD), International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), Mayer Daak, and Odhikar on the occasion of International Week of the Disappeared 2021

Dhaka/Manila/Paris, 25 May 2021: Every year, advocates against enforced disappearance commemorate the International Week of the Disappeared on the last week of May. This week, AFAD, FIDH, Mayer Daak, and Odhikar join the global community in remembering those who have been forcibly disappeared and call upon the government of Bangladesh to return all disappeared persons to their families and ensure justice for the victims. The denial by the Bangladeshi authorities of their continued practice of enforced disappearance - particularly targeting political opposition activists and dissidents - and their unwillingness to take any action to address this serious crime deserves condemnation.

Government interference in the media must stop and repressive ICT Act and DSA must be repealed

Odhikar’s Statement on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day 2021

3 May is World Press Freedom Day, as recognised by the United Nations. This year’s theme for World Press Freedom Day, “Information as a Public Good”, serves as a call to affirm the importance of cherishing reliable information as a public good. However, while this day is being commemorated all over the world, the freedom of the media has been severely endangered and threatened by disrupting the free flow of information and authentic and objective news distribution in Bangladesh...

Press Statement by Civil Society Members of Nepal

The human rights community of Nepal welcomes the recent statement by the independent human rights experts of the United Nations dated 27 April 2021 strongly urging the Nepal Government to rectify the appointments of National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) commissioners which were made contrary to the Principles relating to the Status of National Institutions (The Paris Principles). The experts said they were “deeply concerned that the appointment process is not in line with international standards and that it undermines the independence, integrity and legitimacy of the NHRC, which restricts the ability of the people of Nepal to access appropriate remedies for alleged human rights violations."