While the external situation of the phenomenon of involuntary disappearances in Asia remains unresolved and worse, continue to intensify in countries which are in conflict situations, the year 2003 ended with important things being accomplished by the Federation through the joint leadership of the AFAD Council and the Secretariat.

AFAD, like any other organization, was not without with internal and external difficulties. It is important to note that major organizational problems were gradually ironed out, although not totally resolved. The will to live up to the Federation's reason for existence continues to be the major driving force of AFAD in order to pursue its direction.

On the aspect of international lobbying, at the beginning of the year, the newly established United Nations Open-Ended Working Group to elaborate a Draft Legally Binding Normative Instrument for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances met twice - first in January then in September. On both occasions, AFAD actively participated in cooperation with the Latin American Federation of Associations of Relatives of Disappeared-Detainees (FEDEFAM) and the newly established African Network Against Involuntary Disappearances (RADIF). The cooperation is a manifestation of the determination to contribute towards the establishment of an important treaty protecting all persons from this heinous crime against humanity.

At the end of March to the middle of April, the whole AFAD Council attended the 59th session of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights and NGO parallel activities. AFAD member-organizations directly lobbied Asian governments both in terms of country concerns and on the common concern to expedite the ratification of a convention for the protection of all persons from enforced or involuntary disappearances. AFAD also met with Mr. Diego Garcia-Sayan, Chairperson of the United Nations Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances.

On the local level, apart from the lobbying done by AFAD's member-organizations, the AFAD Secretariat met with the Philippine diplomatic community, specifically the following: Belgian Embassy, French Embassy, Embassy of Finland, The Royal Netherlands Embassy, Canadian Embassy, European Union. These individual meetings with the said embassies served as a venue to disseminate information, which is important in the governments' annual reports as well as to solicit political, moral, material support. The visits also complemented the international lobbying work done in Geneva.

An important endeavor of AFAD on the national level is the lobbying for the enactment of a law criminalizing enforced or involuntary disappearances. This process is on-going in the Philippines, thus, the Second Congress of AFAD adopted a resolution urging the Philippine President and the Philippine Congress to expedite the process. This is deemed important considering that if enacted into law, it would be the first anti-involuntary disappearance law in Asia. Moreover, the AFAD Secretariat actively participated in the lobbying activities of FIND. With the upcoming national elections, it is, unlikely that the law would be passed. The Families of Victims of Involuntary Disappearance (FIND) will do the initial steps to lobby when the 13th Congress will have assumed its work.

In terms of solidarity, AFAD proved that in unity, there is strength. This was especially so during the hunger strike staged by the families of the disappeared in Kashmir sometime in April. The pressure of AFAD, especially the solidarity pickets staged in front of the Indian embassies in Jakarta and Colombo and the Indian Consulate in Hong Kong, not to mention pressure statements sent to the Indian government contributed to the admission of Chief Minister Mufti Muhammed Syed that there are 3,744 cases of involuntary disappearances that occurred from 2000 up to last year - contrary to his earlier claim that there were only 60. The hunger strike was a breakthrough for the Federation and was a morale bolster to the families of the victims in the area.

The biggest endeavor of AFAD during the year was the holding of AFAD's Second Congress on August 26-30, 2002 in Bangkok, Thailand. With the theme, “Strengthen AFAD's Unity Amidst Diversity,” it was participated in by 26 representatives from all AFAD member-organizations, from the Latin American Federation of Associations of Relatives of Disappeared-Detainees (FEDEFAM) and Linking Solidarity. It was an occasion to review the accomplishments and failures during the last three years, revise and ratify AFAD's Constitution and By-Laws, formulate a General Plan of Action, elect a new set of officers and adopt resolutions on country concerns.
While the Federation was involved in strengthening its solidarity on the Asian level, it did not limit itself to the confines of Asia. It reached out to its African and Latin American counterparts.

AFAD shared its experience with the newly-established African Network Against Disappearances (RADIF). The AFAD Secretary-General, together with Patricio Rice of FEDEFAM participated in the conference convened by Linking Solidarity in Pretoria, South Africa in February and in Arusha, Tanzania in June. This participation was appreciated by the African network, which is challenged to form its own federation.
Later in the year, in November, the AFAD Secretary-General participated in the 17th Congress of FEDEFAM in Guatemala City. She presented the problem of involuntary disappearances in Asia, the work of AFAD and the importance of strengthening international cooperation.

The AFAD Secretariat, in an effort to be deeply rooted in the struggle of the families of the disappeared in the Philippines, consistently attended activities of its member-organization in the country, the Families of Victims of Involuntary Disappearance (FIND).

AFAD's Campaign and Public Information was expressed principally in the efforts of member-organizations in their respective countries.

As a Federation, it held simultaneous traditionally-commemorated events for the disappeared - the International Week of the Disappeared and the International Day of the Disappeared. The beginning of this week saw the second attack against the office of KontraS and Ikohi when some 150 elements of the Youth of the Veterans physically destroyed the office and mauled KontraS officers and personnel. The raid was related to the Aceh conflict wherein Munir was implicated. AFAD and some of its member-organizations wrote statements of protest and sent them to the appropriate authorities.

As a Federation, it held simultaneous traditionally-commemorated events for the disappeared - the International Week of the Disappeared and the International Day of the Disappeared. The beginning of this week saw the second attack against the office of KontraS and Ikohi when some 150 elements of the Youth of the Veterans physically destroyed the office and mauled KontraS officers and personnel. The raid was related to the Aceh conflict wherein Munir was implicated. AFAD and some of its member-organizations wrote statements of protest and sent them to the appropriate authorities.

While AFAD members celebrated different forms of activity during the International Week of the Disappeared, it had a common event to commemorate the International Day of the Disappeared, which was the culmination of its Second Congress. On this occasion, the AFAD Congress visited families of the disappeared in Bangkok, Thailand.
AFAD's public information work was implemented through the timely publication of its magazine, The Voice and the launching of its website (http://www.afad-online.org). Occasionally, AFAD also issued official statements on important issues vis-à-vis disappearances.

As a new endeavor, AFAD member-organizations in Kashmir, India; Indonesia and the Philippines simultaneously implemented different forms of rehabilitation activities. The Association of Parents and Family Members of the Disappeared in Kashmir, India started the implementation of its scholarship program for the families of the disappeared during the last quarter of the year. KontraS and IKOHI of Indonesia devised a series of rehabilitation activities among families of the victims with the participation of the families' immediate community; FIND conducted therapy sessions among elderly families of the victims and the Truth and Justice Commission conducted a bee keeping livelihood project for the families of the victims. This direct assistance program is AFAD's effort to respond concretely to the needs of its constituency. It is only when the direct needs of the families of the disappeared are answered can they involve themselves more effectively in the work for truth, justice and redress.

To internally strengthen the Federation, AFAD held a Leadership Training in Manila, Philippines also at the beginning of the year - from January 27-30, 2003. Sponsored by the Evangelischer Entwicklungsdients (EED), all member-organizations attended. While it raised the participants' leadership experience to the theoretical plane, the gathering also served as a venue for projection of the issue in a public forum attended by an audience of 300 people from different social sectors.

AFAD also saw the need to systematize and professionalize its administrative and finance work. Its office was further equipped with new facilities through the financial support of EED. Thus, new pieces of office equipment were purchased to respond to the growing technical demands of the work. In the middle of the year, The Royal Netherlands Embassy, which funded AFAD's website, also donated an office computer.

The Secretariat regularly coordinates with the member-organizations through different forms of communication. In general, communication has improved, but in the latter part of the year, mutual communication between the secretariat and the member-organizations and among member-organizations was found wanting. There is still a room for improvement in this regard.

The AFAD Secretary-General consistently related with AFAD's funding agencies through personal visits and submission of written narrative and financial reports. She also visited possible sources of financial support both in the Philippines and abroad, while writing and submitting project proposals for possible consideration by donors for the year 2004.

Visits to member-organizations were also conducted by the Secretary-General in Thailand, Indonesia, Kashmir, India. The visit to Kashmir, India was a breakthrough considering the difficult security situation - the first ever conducted by AFAD since the formation of its core group in 1998. It was most appreciated by the families of the disappeared in the area.

The year 2003 gave AFAD the much-needed blessings that it needs for it to be true to its avowed mission, vision and goals. All these were made possible through the partnership between the AFAD Secretariat and the AFAD member-organizations; the able leadership of the AFAD Council, the inspiration of the disappeared and their families and the indispensable support of kind-hearted groups and individuals world-wide.