Coming from the points around the globe to sow the seeds of the international movement against involuntary disappearances, representatives of organizations concerned with the common issue of involuntary disappearances from Asia, Africa and Latin America attended the inter-continental activities sponsored by the Families of Victims of Involuntary Disappearance (FIND) during the 1997 commemoration of the International Week of the Disappeared. On this occasion, forming an Asian group to be linked to the already established Latin American Federation of Associations of Relatives of Disappeared Detainees (FEDEFAM) was envisioned.
A year later, the core of the envisioned Asian group, composed of organizations from the Philippines, Kashmir, India and Sri Lanka saw the light of day on June 4, 1998 in Manila, Philippines. The event was graced by former FEDEFAM President, Yanette Bautista. It was the start of a series of joint activities of AFAD and FEDEFAM.
Two years of ground work resulted in the convening of the Founding Congress also held in Manila. From a core group of three organizations, AFAD has expanded and is now a Federation of seven organizations concerned on the phenomenon involuntary disappearances and other forms of civil and political rights violations.
Its Second Congress, with the theme "Strengthening AFAD's Unity Amidst Diversity: A Key to an Effective Human Rights Human Rights Advocacy" was convened on August 26-30, 2003 in Bangkok, Thailand.
(Read a narrative presentation of the history of AFAD here http://afad-online.org/images/2019/History-and-Accomplishments-AFAD.pdf )
Sowing the seeds of Intercontinental Cooperation
Manila, Philippines- May 1997
Representatives of organizations of families of the disappeared from Sri Lanka, Cambodia, South Africa, Argentina and El Salvador conceptualized an Asian group of organizations concerned on involuntary disappearances to be linked to the already established Federacion Latinoamericana de Asociaciones de Familiares de Detenidos-Desaparecidos (FEDEFAM).
In a diplomatic briefing, the inter-continental delegates testified the phenomenon involuntary disappearances in their respective continents, a picture that depicted the global scourge of involuntary disappearances.
In solidarity with the inter-continental group of delegates of organization of families of the disappeared, the local NGO community attended a concelebrated Mass at the Flame of Courage Monument, Baclaran, Manila.
The Families of Victims of Involuntary Disappearance (FIND)-Philippines, in a resolve to initiate the formation of AFAD, celebrated a Holy Sacrifice of the Mass at the Flame of courage Monument, Baclaran, Manila,
August 23, 1997- Former FEDEFAM Executive Director Maria del Carmen Pariente visited the FIND Office and discussed about the possibility of the participation of the core of the Asian group to participate in FEDEFAM’s 14th Congress in Mexico City.
November 1997- In a daring effort to start cooperation with FEDEFAM, representatives Families of Victims of Involuntary Disappearance (FIND) attended the FEDEFAM Congress and realized the steadfastness and determination of their Latin American counterparts,
March 1998 - Colombo, Sri Lanka- Families of the disappeared in a country where at least, 60,000 people disappeared saw a ray of hope with the idea of forming the core of AFAD.
Aware of the differences in language, culture, political beliefs, religion and in many other respects, Sri Lankan families of the disappeared hoped that one day, all their tears will be wiped away and all their struggles will be laid to rest.
Mr. Parvez Imroz, Patron of the Association of Parents Disappeared Persons, shared a common experience with the families of the disappeared in Sri Lanka.
In a dilemma between despair and hope, the mothers of the disappeared in Kashmir expressed that AFAD will bring light to their battered lives.
Amidst the hopes that AFAD brings, the pain of losing their loved ones is manifested in the very facial expressions of the mothers who never knew until when shall they struggle and until when they shall wait for the truth to be unveiled and for justice to be meted out.
The Dawning Of A New Day – The Birth of the Core of AFAD Manila, Philippines- June 1998.
Members of the Samahan Ng Mga Anak ng Desaparecidos (SAD) or Association of the Children of the Disappeared formally opened the launching of the core of the Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances (AFAD), composed of the Families of Victims of Involuntary Disappearance (FIND)-Philippines; the Association of Parents of Disappeared Persons (APDP)-Kashmir, India and the Organization of Parents and Family Members of the Disappeared (OPFMD) –Sri Lanka.
The local and international human rights community witnessed the sprouting of a new seed, the core of AFAD.
Friends from Indonesia, still euphoric after the fall of the 32-year Suharto regime, expressed solidarity with the families of the disappeared in their co-Asian neighbors.
A manifestation of Latin American solidarity, Señora Yanette Bautista, former president of the Federación Latinoamericana de Asocianes de Familiares de Detenidos-Desaparecidos, graced the core group launching of AFAD.
Harness our Strength: Cross National Boundaries. Address Injustices of the Past and Present, Combat Involuntary Disappearances-A Crime Against Humanity-Never Again!
Mirth is seen from the faces of the delegates and guests at the birth of the ASIAN FEDERATION AGAINST INVOLUNTARY DISAPPEARANCES (AFAD).
The Families of Victims of Involuntary Disappearance (FIND) staff members posed with the core of AFAD.
In a workshop , the representatives from the different Asian countries shared experiences in the field in terms of the work against involuntary disappearances.
Conference shared common strategies against enforced desappearances.
AFAD met for the first time with the families of the disappeared and those who were killed during the May 1992 event in Thailand.
AFAD delegates vowed to remain true to the theme of the Founding Congress: Achieve Concrete Victories of Justice! Unite to Struggle for the Desaparecidos in Asia and throughout the World!
April 2000 -Geneva, Switzerland - The inter-continental forum against involuntary disappearances composed of representatives from Latin America, Asia, Africa and Europe presented the international phenomenon of involuntary disappearances at the halls of the United Nations during the 57th session of the former United Nations Commission on Human Rights.
Asian-Latin American Unity: the late Marta Vasquez, former FEDEFAM President and AFAD delegates sitting at the famous Serpentine Bar of the Palais des Nations after a rigorous lobbying with the UN.
November 27-December 2, 2000—Jakarta, Indonesia –Bonded by the common experience of involuntary disappearance, Asian and Latin American lawyers forged a collective and global response against this malady through various national and international legal instruments.
January 2001, Colombo, Sri Lanka—Determined to fight for truth, justice and redress for Sri Lanka’s 60 thousand desaparecidos, lawyers and activists conducted a conference to discuss legal remedies against disappearances.
April 2002 -Geneva, Switzerland—The warmth of the solidarity of AFAD’s friends, Alan and Kate Harmer make it possible for AFAD members to find shelter in Geneva during the 58th session of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights.
August 2002- Bangkok, Thailand—To support the local struggle of the Relatives Committee of the May 1992 Heroes, the AFAD Council met with the Thai National Commission on Human Rights.
The Tiananmen Square is a witness to the violent bloodshed that caused the deaths of the thousands of Chinese citizens and the consequent pain of the mothers and relatives of the victims. The cry for truth, justice and redress continues.
November 2002 - Cotonou, Benin, West Africa — Inspired by the example of FEDEFAM and AFAD, though the facilitative work of Linking Solidarity, human rights organizations and families of the disappeared in West Africa resolved to fight for justice at all costs.
January 2003 - Geneva, Switzerland — The historic first session of the former United Nations Working Group to Draft a Legally-Binding Normative Instrument for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearances, chaired by the late French Ambassador Bernard Kessedjian, met to discuss the possibility of a legally-binding normative instrument to combat involuntary disappearances. The presence of AFAD strengthens the reality that this scourge of involuntary disappearances is also a regional phenomenon in Asia.
" Born on 9th of February, 1974 Aasia Jeelani laid down her life in the pursuit of truth and justice for the people of Kashmir. She was martyred on the 20th April 2004 while on assignment in the remote district of Kupwara in Indian Administered Kashmir when an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) was detonated that blew the car carrying her and her colleagues and killed her." (From AFAD's Tribute to Aasia Jeelani, a woman human rights defender who worked with Association of Parents of Disappeared Persons (APDP) at the time of her death.)
Munir was a fearless and brave human rights defender who openly criticized the Indonesian government for its crack down on human rights activists that led to hundreds of disappearances during Suharto’s regime in 1997/98. He played an instrumental role in establishing the involvement of the Indonesian military in the human rights violations in Aceh, Papua and Timor-Leste. In 1998, Munir founded the Commission for the Disappeared Persons and Victims of Violence, also known as KontraS. He was a recipient of the Right Livelihood Award, 2000. Munir was the Chairperson of AFAD at the time of his death. On September 7, 2004, Munir was killed by a lethal dose of arsenic in a Garuda flight from Jakarta to Amsterdam via Singapore. All indications point out the involvement of the Military Intelligence Group, however, General Muchdi, who was convicted for his alleged involvement in the killing of Munir, was acquitted.
"September 22, 2005, Geneva, Switzerland - After three years of difficult negotiations, His Excellency Bernard Kessedjian, Chair of the United Nations Inter-Sessional Open-Ended Working Group to Elaborate a Draft Legally-Binding Normative Instrument for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances offered the packaged consensus document to the delegations of about ninety UN member-states... To the desaparecidos all over the world, whose inspiration has made the tiring task of lobbying surmountable, AFAD wholeheartedly dedicates this collective victory and offers them its unyielding struggle for a world without desaparecidos." ( Excerpt from The Voice, December 2005 issue, Cover Story by Mary Aileen Diez-Bacalso)
2005-2006 -In cooperation with FEDEFAM, AFAD played a role in convincing the United Nations of the imperative of an international treaty with a strong international human rights mechanism to ensure implementation.
2006-2007 - Believing in the victims' central role in the struggle for truth and justice, AFAD conducted psychosocial support activities to accompany the victims in their long journey... These were efforts to empower victims from victims into human rights defenders.
2008 - AFAD commemorated its first decade of struggle for a world without desaparecidos.
2009
2010- AFAD intensified its national, regional, international campaigns for the ratification by Asian States of the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance.
July 8, 2010 - AFAD grieved over the death of staunch human rights defender, Patricio Rice, who was then the focal person of the International Coalition Against Enforced Disappearances.
2011 - Simultaneous with the advocacy for the ratification and implementation of the anti-disappearance treaty were the intensive psychosocial accompaniment efforts of AFAD for victims' families who play the central role in the struggle for truth and justice.
2013 - A decade and a half of struggle for truth and justice, AFAD saw itself searching for Sombath Somphone and campaigning for the release of Odhikar Secretary, Adilur Rahman Khan of Bangladesh.
On the same year, the Ministry of External Relations and Worship of the Government of Argentina endowed upon the AFAD Secretary-General, Mary Aileen D. Bacalso the Emilio F. Mignone International Human Rights Prize.
2014 - With the then two-year disappearance of Lao development worker, Sombath Somphone, AFAD members linked arms to leave no stone unturned to find Sombath and all desaparecidos.
2015
2015 - The dynamic federation continued to step up its solidarity, lobby, campaign work in the vast Asian region that submitted the highest number of cases of enforced disappearances to the UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances.
2016
2016
2016 was a year of struggles, of persecution and of victory. AFAD Chairperson Khurram Parvez was arrested and detained and released after intensive international campaigning. AFAD garnered the Asian Human Rights and Democracy Award bestowed upon by the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy.
2017
2017 - The year 2017 began with AFAD's participation in the second official session of the UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances held in Asia. In Seoul, South Korea, AFAD delegation from the Philippines, Timor-Leste, Indonesia and Bangladesh participated in the session
2017 - One of the greatest sources gratification in the work against enforced disappearances is finding disappeared people. Timorese-children, who are now adults, who were taken by Indonesian soldiers during the occupation were found and reunited with their families in Timor-Leste.
2017 - In Sri Lanka, a country globally notorious for its very high number of enforced disappearances, AFAD conducted its 6th Congress to consolidate its ranks and raise its level of victories for truth and justice to greater heights.
2018
