- Category: Statements
BANGLADESH: Investigate deadly factory fire, compensate victims
Dhaka/Paris; 13 July 2021: Bangladeshi authorities should conduct a prompt, thorough, and impartial investigation into a deadly fire, make the findings of the investigation public, and prosecute all those responsible, Odhikar and FIDH urged today.
- Category: Statements
Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances, Defence of Human Rights Pakistan, International Coalition Against Enforced Disappearances, Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA), FIDH, CAGE and World Sindhi Congress welcome the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2021 proposed by Human Rights Minister Madam Shireen Mazari in Pakistan to criminalize the Act of enforced disappearance in the country.
- Category: Statements
STATEMENT ON THE INTERNATIONAL DAY IN SUPPORT OF VICTIMS OF TORTURE
26th June, 2021
Manila: The Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances (AFAD) condemns the use of torture and inhuman treatment of individuals. AFAD stands in solidarity with those who have faced this egregious violation of human rights and commits to join their fight for justice.
Torture is used regularly against persons in prisons and under detention across Asia. The methods range from psychological to inflicting severe physical pain. The victims are invariably stripped naked, beaten with foot, fists and heavy objects, given electric shocks especially through genitals, hanging persons in various positions, burning with cigarettes, immersing body in salt water, and sexual violence against both men and women. Individuals may be threatened with harm to family or leaking of very personal information in public.
- Category: Statements
Dear All,
I am writing to tell you about what I feel when (24 Jestha) June comes along, what I have been going through for the last 17 years and experienced seeking justice. Once again, I am calling for your continuous support, not to let the justice system in the country collapse because an innocent child is killed and their parents need to die while seeking justice.
- Category: IDD-AFAD-MO
Philippines (24th to 30th May, 2021): The Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances (AFAD) commemorates the International Week of the Disappeared, 2021 in solidarity with families of the disappeared searching for truth and justice. The struggle is made more arduous by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The enforcement of measures like lockdowns, self-quarantine, and prohibitions of public gatherings to prevent the spread of the virus has also led to further shrinking of an already limited civic space for freedom of expression, assembly, and association.
- Category: Statements
A Joint Statement by the Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances (AFAD), International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), Mayer Daak, and Odhikar on the occasion of International Week of the Disappeared 2021
Dhaka/Manila/Paris, 25 May 2021: Every year, advocates against enforced disappearance commemorate the International Week of the Disappeared on the last week of May. This week, AFAD, FIDH, Mayer Daak, and Odhikar join the global community in remembering those who have been forcibly disappeared and call upon the government of Bangladesh to return all disappeared persons to their families and ensure justice for the victims. The denial by the Bangladeshi authorities of their continued practice of enforced disappearance - particularly targeting political opposition activists and dissidents - and their unwillingness to take any action to address this serious crime deserves condemnation.
- Category: Statements
Odhikar’s Statement on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day 2021
3 May is World Press Freedom Day, as recognised by the United Nations. This year’s theme for World Press Freedom Day, “Information as a Public Good”, serves as a call to affirm the importance of cherishing reliable information as a public good. However, while this day is being commemorated all over the world, the freedom of the media has been severely endangered and threatened by disrupting the free flow of information and authentic and objective news distribution in Bangladesh...
- Category: Statements
The human rights community of Nepal welcomes the recent statement by the independent human rights experts of the United Nations dated 27 April 2021 strongly urging the Nepal Government to rectify the appointments of National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) commissioners which were made contrary to the Principles relating to the Status of National Institutions (The Paris Principles). The experts said they were “deeply concerned that the appointment process is not in line with international standards and that it undermines the independence, integrity and legitimacy of the NHRC, which restricts the ability of the people of Nepal to access appropriate remedies for alleged human rights violations."