Asian Federation Against 
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India: International human rights groups reiterate call for release of detained Kashmiri human rights defender Khurram Parvez on his birthday
18 June 2025. On the eve of the 48th birthday of Khurram Parvez, a globally respected human rights defender from Indian-administered Kashmir, we, the undersigned organizations, renew our call for his immediate and unconditional release. Khurram has now spent over three and a half years in arbitrary detention under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) – an Indian
counter-terrorism law that has been widely condemned by experts and the United Nations (UN) for violating legal rules and norms, including by enabling prolonged pre-trial incarceration.
Bangladesh: Extend the Mandate of the Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances to Ensure Truth and Accountability
We, the undersigned international human rights organizations, urge the Interim Government of Bangladesh to extend the mandate of the Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances until at least December 31, 2025. While the Commission’s mandate is set to expire on June 30, victims and their families deserve adequate time for the Commission to complete its mandate to conduct independent, impartial, and credible investigations into the disappearances that took place under Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League government over the past fifteen years.
AFAD Statement on the Arrest of Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte by the ICC for Crimes Against Humanity
The Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances (AFAD) welcomes the decision of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to arrest former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte for alleged Crimes Against Humanity. On March 11, the ICC through the INTERPOL and the Philippine National Police (PNP) served the arrest warrant to Duterte, instructing for his immediate surrender to the custody of the ICC. As of today, March 14, Duterte is scheduled to make his initial appearance before the ICC’s Pre-Trial Chamber.
Defending Digital Rights: Ensuring Safe Spaces for Women’s Advocacy
On this International Women’s Day , the Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances (AFAD) reaffirms its unwavering commitment to amplifying the voices of women leading the fight against enforced disappearances. Their struggle transcends the search for missing loved ones—it is a profound resistance against systemic oppression, intersectional discrimination, gender-based violence, economic marginalization, and digital repression. Women, particularly those impacted by enforced disappearances, are not merely victims but leaders, organizers, and human rights defenders shaping transformative justice movements.
