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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? |
2009: A New Year Filled with Courage and Hope!
Statement of the Asian Federation Against Involuntary
Disappearances
The year 2008 is soon over. We graciously look back with gratitude for
all of God's blessings, some of which we received without even asking.
We thank in a special way for the increasing number of people in Asia
and in the world who joined us in one way or the other in our incessant
campaign against human rights violations particularly enforced or
involuntary disappearance, one of the most cruel human rights violations
the world has ever known. Difficulties and pains were certainly there,
too, but with the strengthened unity we gained as a Federation as we
completed a decade of journey for a world without desaparecidos,
along with the support from friends and allies the world over, we
managed to overcome all these and came out whole and complete.
As the year 2008 draws to a close and the New Year 2009 begins, we dwell
on the positive note and strengthen our courage and hope for more
blessings to come. In spirit and in written word, we reach out to
families, relatives and friends of the disappeared in Asia and all over
the world and once again, assure them of our continuing support in the
cry for justice for their disappeared loved ones. We gain renewed
strength from all of them. In much the same manner, we also reach out to
our partners the world over. Hand in hand with all of you out there, we
look forward to the achievement of a higher level of our justice
campaign in 2009.
It is an understatement to cite that enforced or involuntary
disappearance has caused and is causing so much pain in the world
especially on the families of victims. In fact, for many years after the
disappearance of their loved ones, wives, children, parents can hardly
go on with life. But, indeed, human beings are made of durable stuff.
Families of the disappeared have proven this as most of them are capable
of transcending their pains and turn these into courage as they join the
intensifying justice campaign. Families cite that the achievement of
justice for their disappeared loved ones is a part and parcel of the
achievement of justice for all victims and vice versa. Furthermore, they
uphold that justice will also be achieved for their loved ones when the
cruel phenomenon of enforced disappearance is finally eradicated from
the face of the earth.
A giant leap of the global justice campaign is the UN General Assembly's
unanimous adoption of the International Convention for the Protection of
All Persons from Enforced Disappearance on 20 December 2006. Certainly,
the united efforts of families of the disappeared from different
continents have greatly contributed to this achievement. To date, 79
member-states have already signed the Convention and eight (8) countries
have ratified it. Of the country-signatories, four are from Asia namely;
India, Azerbaijan, Japan and Mongolia while those which ratified it are
Albania, Argentina, Mexico, Uruguay, France, Honduras, Senegal and
Bolivia.
While we sincerely thank the member-states which have already signed and
ratified the Convention, AFAD strongly raises the following
inter-connected appeals:
* We strongly appeal to the conscience of all UN member-states to sign
and ratify the same Convention. These moves on their part are
indispensable signs that finally, they have concretely lent a listening
ear to their constituents' cry for justice;
* We strongly appeal to the Philippine and Nepal governments which
already have enforced disappearance bills pending in their respective
Houses of Congress to immediately enact these bills into law. The
examples of the two governments may inspire other governments especially
those in Asia to come up with corresponding local laws;
* Likewise, with the looming global financial crisis in the world today,
we strongly appeal to the governments especially to those in Asia to
look into the concrete realities of the families of the disappeared and
other victims of human rights violations and provide them with the
economic support they badly need.
The UN Convention and a local law on enforced or involuntary
disappearance will complement each other in serving as tools for cases
to be resolved and for impunity to banish. With these, the phenomenon of
enforced disappearance will be gradually eradicated in local societies
and the global human family will march towards a world where truth,
justice, peace, holistic development and social transformation will
finally prevail.
A Blessed, Joyful and Peaceful New Year to everyone!
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MUGIYANTO |
MARY AILEEN D. BACALSO |
| Chairperson |
Secretary-General |
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