Surface Environmental Defenders Eco Dangla III and Joxelle "Jak" Tiong

Update: ‘Bruised but alive’: Missing environmental activists in Pangasinan found safe, MAR 28, 2024 9:31 AM PHT, JAIRO BOLLEDO, Rappler. Click here to read article.

We vehemently condemn the abduction and enforced disappearance of Francisco “Eco” Dangla III and  Joxelle “Jak” Tiong on the evening of March 24, 2024 in San Carlos City, Pangasinan Province, Philippines.

Immediately release Irfan Mehraj – A call from civil society on the first anniversary of his continuing arbitrary detention

We, the undersigned civil society organisations, call for the immediate and unconditional release of Kashmiri journalist and human rights defender Irfan Mehraj. While on a professional assignment on 20 March 2023, Mehraj was summoned for questioning and arbitrarily detained by India’s National Investigation Agency (NIA) in Srinagar under provisions of the Indian Penal Code and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

Bangladesh needs a democratic system and a robust judiciary to protect the rights of women and girls, must withdraw CEDAW reservations

A Joint Statement by the Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances (AFAD), Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA), International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), Maayer Daak, and Odhikar on International Women’s Day 2024

 Bangkok/Dhaka/Manila/Paris (8 March 2024): The theme for this year’s International Women’s Day, “Invest in women: Accelerate progress,” deeply resonates with the current situation in Bangladesh. Investing in women and girls means safeguarding their well-being, protecting their rights, providing inclusive economic opportunities, and promoting gender equality in all spheres of life. Regrettably, gender-based wage discrimination, sexual harassment in workplaces and other forms of gender-based violence (GBV), and insufficient provision of healthcare undermine the rights of the women workers.

Recognizing the Role of Women in the Struggle to End Enforced Disappearances

On this International Women's Day, the Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances (AFAD) honors the resilience and leadership of women in the global fight against enforced disappearances. With the inception of the Women Elevating Discourse on Gender and Enforced Disappearances (WEDGED) initiative, AFAD highlights the indomitable spirit of women who lead the charge for justice, truth, and reparation. This initiative underscores the vital role of women in confronting this grave human rights violation and seeks to amplify their voices in the discourse surrounding gender and enforced disappearances. AFAD aims to create a platform for women to