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

Statement of Odhikar

Odhikar is deeply concerned over the death of writer Mushtaq Ahmed on 25 February 2021, who was detained in Kashimpur Central Jail under the repressive Digital Security Act, 2018. Police also attacked anti-government student organisations in Dhaka when they brought out a rally in protest of his death and to demand the repeal of the Digital Security Act, 2018. Many were injured and arrested and all were deprived of their freedom of peaceful assembly.

Foreword

Since its inception in 1994, Odhikar has been relentlessly struggling to protect the civil, political, social, economic and cultural rights of the people. Odhikar, as an organisation of human rights defenders, has always sought to raise awareness of all human rights violations committed by the state and campaign for internationally recognized civil and political rights, to protest and prevent the state from violating human rights. Odhikar unconditionally stands by the victims of oppression and maintains no prejudice with regard to their political leanings or ideological orientation and it advocates for establishing protection and justice for victims of human rights abuses.

Manila: It has been eight years since the disappearance of Sombath Somphone, a community development worker from Laos. The Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances (AFAD) continues to stand in solidarity with Sombath’s family, friends, and other human rights defenders who struggle to know the whereabouts of Sombath.

On the International Human Rights Day and commemorating the 72nd anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), the precursor of landmark international human rights instruments, human rights defenders (HRDs) have reasons to celebrate. Today, the Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances (AFAD) hails its members who have courageously and steadfastly protected and promoted human rights and fundamental freedoms particularly the right not to be subjected to enforced disappearance (ED).

The Federation

AFAD map