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AFAD History
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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 conceptualize 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)
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In
a diplomatic briefing, the inter-continental delegates testify the involuntary
disappearances in their respective continents, a picture that depicts
the international phenomenon of involuntary disappearances in the world
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In
solidarity with the inter-continental group of delegates of organization
of families of the disappeared, the local NGO Community attend the concelebrated
Mass at the Flame of Courage Monument, Baclaran, Manila
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The
Families of Victims of Involuntary Disappearance (FIND)-Philippines, in
a
resolve to initiate the formation of AFAD, celebrate the Holy Sacrifice
of the Mass at the Flame of courage Monument, Baclaran, Manila
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August 23,
1997- Former FEDEFAM Executive Director Maria del Carmen Pariente visits
the FIND Office and discusses about the possibility of the participation
of the core of the Asian group to participate in FEDEFAM’s 14th Congress
in Mexico |
November
1997- In a daring effort to start cooperation with FEDEFAM, the Families
of Victims of Involuntary Disappearance (FIND) attends the FEDEFAM Congress
and realize the steadfastness and determination of their Latin American
Counterparts |
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March
1998- Colombo, Sri Lanka- Families of the disappeared in a country where
at least, 60,000 people disappeared see a ray of hope with the idea of
forming the core of AFAD
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Aware
of the differences in language, culture, political beliefs, religion and
in many other respects, the Sri Lankan families of the disappeared hope
that one day, all their tears will be wiped away and all their struggles
will be laid to rest
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Mr. Parvez
Imroz, Patron of the Association of Parents Disappeared Persons, shares
a common experience with the families of the disappeared in Sri Lanka |
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In a dilemma
between despair and hope, the mothers of the disappeared in Kashmir believe
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 know until when
shall they struggle and until when they wait for the truth to be unveiled
and for justice to be meted out |
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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 open 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 FamilyMembers of the Disappeared (OPFMD)
–Sri Lanka
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The local
and international human rights community witnesses the sprouting of a new
seed, the core of AFAD |
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Friends from Indonesia, still euphoric after the fall of
the 32-year Suharto regime, express 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 Feferacion Latinoamericana de
Asocianes de Familiares de Detenidos Desaparecidos, graces the core group
launching of AFAD |
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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 guest at the sight of a newly-born ASIAN
FEDERATION AGAINST INVOLUNTARY DISAPPEARANCES (AFAD) |
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The Families
of Victims of Involuntary Disappearance (FIND) staff members pose with the
core of AFAD- an expression of contentment and satisfaction for a group
newly formed with the acceptance of the challenge of the future |
In a workshop
, the representatives from the different Asian countries share the experiences
in the field in terms of the work against involuntary disappearances |
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Amidst this dark night of the disappeared, in one of the
light moments, the seminar participants had a bit of time for laughter |
AFAD meets
for the first time with the families of the disappeared and those who were
killed during the May 1992 event in Thailand |
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February
2000-Bangkok, Thailand- AFAD prepares for its Founding Congress…
June
2000-Manila,Philippines—AFAD representatives from different Asian
countries, including prospective members from China and Pakistan seriously
discuss AFAD’s basic documents during its Founding Congress in may
2003
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AFAD delegates
vow to be 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! |
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April 2000-Geneva,
Switzerland—The inter-continental forum against involuntary disappearances
composed of representatives from Latin America, Asia, Africa and Europe
reconfirm the international phenomenon of involuntary disappearances at
the halls of the United Nations during the 57th session of the United Nations
Commission on Human Rights |
Asian-Latin
American Unity: Marta Vasquez, FEDEFAM President and AFAD delegates sitting
at the famous Serpents’ bar of the Palais des Nations after a rigorous
lobbying with the United Nations member-states |
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November 27-December
2, 2000—Jakarta, Indonesia –Banded by the common experience
of social dislocation and involuntary disappearance, the Asian and Latin
American lawyers seek to forge 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, the lawyers and activist
make a follow-up to the Jakarta Conference, one of the series of the follow-up
efforts to fight for justice at all costs |
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April
2002-Geneva, Switzerland—The warmth of the solidarity of AFAD’s
friends, Allan and Kate Harmer make it possible for the AFAD members to
find shelter in Geneva during the 58th session of the United Nations Commission
on Human Rights
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August 2002-
Bangkok, Thailand—To bolster the local struggle of the Relatives Committee
of the May 1992 Heroes, the AFAD Council meets with the Thai National Commission
on Human Rights |
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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.
The
Tiananmen Mothers is the newest member of AFAD
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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 resolve to fight for justice
at all costs |
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January 2003-Geneva,
Switzerland—The historic first session of the United Nations Working
Group for the Draft Convention on Involuntary Disappearances, chaired by
the Ambassador of France, meets for the time 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 indeed, also a regional phenomenon in Asia |
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