- Category: Statements
Manila: The Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances (AFAD) commemorates the Human Rights Day, observed each year on the 10th of December. This day this year marks 70 years since the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and thus makes the day of greater significance.
This day is an opportunity to assess the situation of human rights across the world and to ascertain how hard the States must work to ensure basic human rights for every individual. Unfortunately, in Asia, the situation of human rights has been deteriorating with repressive regimes coming to power, institution of repressive state policies, institutionalized impunity for perpetrators of human rights violations and persecution of human rights defenders.
- Category: Statements
Manila: The Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances (AFAD) remembers Maroof Zaman, a former diplomat from Bangladesh who was disappeared one year ago today.
Maroof Zaman is the former Bangladeshi ambassador to Qatar and Vietnam, Counsellor of the Bangladesh High Commission in the United Kingdom, former Additional Secretary of the Foreign Ministry and a retired Bangladesh Army Captain. Although he has never been politically active or charged with any offence, he was recalled from his last post as soon as the incumbent government of Bangladesh came to power, and was later forcibly retired.
- Category: Statements
The Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances (AFAD) expresses grave concern over the deteriorating situation in Bangladesh ahead of the general election in December 2018 and the precarious position in which its member-organization, Odhikar is operating.
- Category: Statements
18th October 2018
The Asian Federation Against Enforced Disappearances (AFAD) expresses serious concern over the election of some of the 18 new member states into the United Nations Human Rights Council. Among the elected states of the Asia Pacific region, AFAD has membership from India, Bangladesh and the Philippines. These States have shown consistent disregard for human rights of their people and have been oppressive and authoritarian in their functioning instead of being democratic.
- Category: Statements
Forty-six years ago on September 21, 1972, the late President Ferdinand Marcos signed Proclamation 1081, which formally announced the beginning of martial rule in the Philippines. This onerous proclamation marked the beginning of his 14-year dictatorial rule and led to what is now known as the darkest age in our country’s history. By peddling the rhetoric of reform and development, Marcos was able to amass colossal power and influence over all aspects of government. He legitimized martial rule in order to stay in power, yet used the veil of a ‘democratic revolution’ to mask the very real horrors of Martial Law.
- Category: Statements
September 17, 2018 (MANILA, PHILIPPINES) – Today, the Malolos Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 15 has found retired Major General Jovito Palparan guilty on charges of kidnapping and serious illegal detention of University of the Philippines (UP) alumnae Sherlyn Cadapan and Karen Empeño. Judge Alexander Tamayo has meted a sentence of reclusion perpetua to Palparan and his two (2) co-accused, Lieutenant Colonel Felipe Anotado and S/Sgt Edgardo Osorio, and has ordered each to pay P100,000 in civil indemnity and P200,000 for moral damages.
- Category: Statements
Today, the Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances (AFAD) fondly remembers its former Chairperson, Munir Said Thalib, who was killed on this day, fourteen years back in 2004. Munir was one of the most prominent human rights defenders in Indonesia, who served as the Chairperson of AFAD from August 2003 till is death.
- Category: Statements
Today, on the occasion of International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances, the Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances (AFAD) remembers the victims of enforced disappearances and salutes the indomitable spirit of those fighting for truth and justice all across the globe.
