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Statements of AFAD
Proceedings:
Articles on the Proceedings on the AFAD Leadership Training
Jan. 27 - 31, 2003, Philippines
AFAD Second Congress Resolutions
August 2003
Remembering Munir
AFAD Second Congress
August 26-30, 2003 in Bangkok, Thailand
AFAD’s Mid-Year Report
Ding Zilin's
Message To
Hong Kong
Again, The KONTRAS – IKOHI Office Was Attacked
“ If they are dead, tell us”!
My sons, where are they?
Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances
Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances
Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances
Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances
Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances
Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances
Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances
Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances
Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances
Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances
Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances
Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances
Against Involuntary Disappearances
Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances
Involuntary Disappearances
Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances
Against Involuntary Disappearances
Against Involuntary Disappearances
Against Involuntary Disappearances |
A GRAND VICTORY - ADOPTION BY
THE UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL
OF THE
CONVENTION ON DISAPPEARANCES
Dear friends,
June 29, 2006, , Palais des Nations, Geneva, Switzerland - The Asian
Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances (AFAD) very happily welcomes the
very good news of the adoption without a vote by the United Nations Human
Rights Council of the United Nations Draft Convention on the Protection of All
Persons from Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances.
AFAD is pleased to have contributed to making the adoption a reality.
Immediately after the birth of the Federation on June 4, 1998, AFAD
immediately joined the Latin American Federation of Associations of Relatives
of Disappeared Detainees (FEDEFAM) in the campaign for the adoption of this
future instrument, which was initially drafted on the same year. After which,
when the then UN Commission on Human Rights approved a resolution creating an
inter-sessional working group to draft a legally binding normative instrument
to protect all persons from enforced or involuntary disappearances, AFAD, in
cooperation with families of the disappeared in other continents, actively
participated in all sessions of the said working group headed by French
Ambassador Bernard Kessedjian. On September 22, 2005, AFAD witnessed the
historic adoption of the final text which, families of the disappeared,
considers a grand victory.
In cooperation with FEDEFAM, the African Network Against Involuntary
Disappearances and HOM/Linking Solidarity, AFAD made a tour to eight European
capitals in November 2004 with the intention of convincing European
governments to support the future treaty. After which, a tour to 4 Asian
capitals followed. Simultaneously, AFAD which spent significant resources for
training its members both on the substance of the Convention and the skills of
lobbying, conducted its own lobbying in their respective capitals. Moreover,
the AFAD Secretariat sent lobby letters to foreign embassies in Manila as well
as to the different Permanent Missions of the members of the United Nations.
All these efforts, together with the efforts of a number of international NGOs
proved successful. The fact that the Convention was adopted without a vote by
the members of the newly-established UN Human Rights Council is a concrete
proof of the effectiveness of the international cooperation of organizations
of families of the disappeared world-wide and the unflinching support of many
international NGOs.
 The adoption of the Convention has destroyed the myth that the issue of
enforced or involuntary disappearances is a past phenomena that occurred
solely in Latin America. AFAD's presence in the whole process of lobbying has
contributed to the projection of the Asian phenomenon of enforced or
involuntary disappearances.
The task bequeathed upon by the former UN Commission on Human Rights to United
Nations Human Rights Council has been accomplished by this newly-established
body. It is a very positive manifestation of political will on the part of the
members Council who voluntarily gave pledges to promote, protect and defend
human rights.
During the two-week session of the UN Human Rights Council, which will be
concluded on the 30th of June, AFAD actively participated in the actual
lobbying and joined in activities parallel to the official session.
Knowing the importance of public support to the eventual conclusion of this
whole process, AFAD did some media projection activities to inform the general
public about this scourge. Please see
television interview with BBC .
The continuing support of governments, the international human rights
community and the general public to ensure the birth of this future treaty and
to ascertain its implementation is very important, indeed. This will be our
collective contribution to the realization of a world without desaparecidos.
The journey is far from over. The next step would be its adoption by The
United Nations General Assembly which is expected to convened in November 2006
in New York. The struggle against enforced disappearances belongs to both the
families of the disappeared and the wider society. Thus, as we express our
gratitude to the support we have received from all of you, we stress the
imperative of your continuing support to fight against this global scourge.
Hasta la victoria!
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