So with enthusiasm mixed with pain – as it is common among us relatives in all our activities on human rights – I participated in the 18th Congress of the Latin American Federation of Associations of Relatives of the Disappeared-Detainees (FEDEFAM) from 10 to 15 July 2006 in Bogotá, Colombia.

FEDEFAM was founded in 1981 in Caracas, Venezuela through the initiative of Fr. Juan Vives Suriá (now deceased) and Patricio Rice, an Irish ex-priest who now lives in Argentina. This Federation is composed of organizations from 13 countries of Abya Yala (the Indian name of America) namely, Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Chile, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay. (Members from Chile, Honduras and Peru, however, could not join us during the event.)

The first two days of the Congress were devoted to discussions on general subjects related to the crime against humanity vis-à-vis the existing mechanisms to prevent and eradicate these abusive acts. The Italian expert Gabriella Citroni, a delegate to the UN Inter-sessional Working Group to Elaborate a Normative Instrument Legally-Binding to Protect All Persons from Enforced Disappearance talked and gave us a workshop on how to use the UN mechanisms such as general allegations, etc., to report cases of disappearances to the UN Working Group. She also highlighted the importance of the Convention in this process of fighting disappearances and impunity.

Fr. Javier Giraldo provided a speech on the Criminalization of Social Movements focusing on the Colombian state as the perpetrators of the crime and how the mothers and relatives have succeeded in denouncing the horrible acts of the government. Atty. Carlos Rodríguez from the Colombian Commission of Jurists spoke on Human Rights Defense Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow. He pointed out the presence of a strong legislation protecting human rights, the problem however, is the lack of political will on the part of the government to implement this law. Needless to say, its Executive Power was founded on paramilitary forces which is heavily influenced by the US. Dr. Lilia Solano’s session on Applying Terrorism of State Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow, put to light the complexity of the internal Colombian conflict brought about by various forces: paramilitary, guerrillas, and narco-traders. Solano criticized Colombian President Uribe’s "democratic society" as a strategy of repression. From the media side, journalist Hernando Gómez shared his insights regarding the Colombian drama being a result of the country’s geo-strategic position in favor of US interests, and movements from the emerald traders (before) and narco traders (today).

July 12 - the Congress operated under the theme: "Twenty-five years of fight. Neither enforced disappearance nor impunity. Convention Now!" Delegates from other regions provided us with their country reports. AFAD Secretary-General Aileen Bacalso presented the situation in Asia through an oral and video presentation. The documentary entitled, Healing Wounds, Mending Scars, allowed us to share the pain of our Asian fellow victims from Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Kashmir, Philippines, China, Thailand and Indonesia. More, Bacalso stressed the need for all the relatives to support each other and find strength in solidarity to combat impunity.

Other delegations from Linking Solidarity (The Netherlands), Pax Christi (Germany) and the Nuremberg Coalition Against Impunity (Argentina) also delivered their speeches and reports.

One significant thing that marked this day, was the good news received by the mothers during the sessions that the niece (No. 84) of the Grandmothers of Plaza de Mayo (Argentina) had been identified! It was a victorious moment for everyone.

July 13 – We listened to Dr. Agustín Jiménez, President of the Foundation Committee of Solidarity with Political Prisoners, reported on Arbitrary Detentions. Dr. Liliana Valiña from the Colombian Bureau of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights spoke about the Facultative Protocol to the International Convention Against Torture. Dr. David Martínez provided an enlightening speech on the demobilization of paramilitary groups which is highly inclined to reinforcing repression in rural communities. Iván Cepeda discussed Law of Justice and Peace-Impunity, grounding on the reality that repression is masked by legal instruments and so-called democratic activities.

Members from ASFADDES also presented the situation of enforced disappearance in Colombia.

We all know and believe, enforced disappearance continues so long as our disappeared loved ones have not returned. From all the reports that have been presented in this Congress, there is a great need to fortify efforts against impunity; to achieve a penal justice system to punish the perpetrators and convince the governments of the necessity to create and implement executive and legislative measures to protect human rights.

The state of enforced disappearance in America and Asia – as it is in Africa, Europe, and Oceania, compels us to seriously think of further coming together and strengthening joint efforts. Hopefully, in three years, AFAD and FEDEFAM will take on these tasks:

1. Courses, workshops, and seminars on capacity building for the relatives.

2. Joint "intercontinental" lobby in the national and international level so as to get signatures for the Convention’s ratification.

3. Arrange and put into practice national and international campaigns for the Convention, with an active participation of the relatives.

(In the case of AFAD, the campaigns will also focus on the possibilities of establishing conditions for the creation of an Asian regional mechanism on human rights.

At last, now I finish as I have started, I leave you with this phrase that expresses my desire:

Convention Now! AFAD and FEDEFAM together now!