- Category: Statements
Today, the Asian Federation Against Enforced Disappearances (AFAD) pays a tribute to the life and work of Aasia Jeelani who was a foot soldier of human rights in conflict ridden Indian Administered Kashmir.
Today, the Asian Federation Against Enforced Disappearances (AFAD) pays a tribute to the life and work of Aasia Jeelani who was a foot soldier of human rights in conflict ridden Indian Administered Kashmir.Born on 9th of February, 1974 Aasia laid down her life in the pursuit of truth and justice for the people of Kashmir. She was martyred on the 20th April 2004 while on assignment in the remote district of Kupwara in Indian Administered Kashmir when an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) was detonated that blew the car carrying her and her colleagues and killed her.
- Category: Press Releases
Accountability Watch Committee (AWC)
Press Statement
Ensure Transparency and Accountability in Transitional Justice Process
10 April 2018
Kathmandu: The Accountability Watch Committee (AWC) raises its serious concerns on continuous delay, lack of progress and transparency in the Transitional Justice (TJ) process and re-stresses its demands raised previously and request all the actors involved to ensure the followings:
1. Ensure transparency in the process: We welcome the efforts of the New Government to amend the TRC Act fully respecting the order of the Supreme Court of 26 February 2015. However, we are seriously concerned about the lack of transparency in the amendment process. Both the victims and civil society are important actors of the TJ process, which the Supreme Court has also recognized in its ruling of 02 January 2014 recommending the Government to involve victims, civil society organizations in the law-making process. Lack of transparency and informed engagement of the victims and civil society will not only erode the legitimacy of the process, but also the confidence and support of these actors to the TRC process.
Thus, we call upon all actors to ensure transparency in the process and informed engagement of the victims and civil society in the TJ process.
- Category: Statements
Easter Sunday is very important for Christians all over the world as it signifies the celebration of Christ’s victory over death. The Easter Story is a reminder of the sacrifices made by Christ when He gave His body and His blood to wash clean the faults and shortcomings of the world and of His triumphant resurrection.
- Category: Statements
24 March 2018 - The Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances (AFAD) commemorates the International Day for the Right to Truth Concerning Gross Human Rights Violations and for the Dignity of Victims. We are witness to a world where violation of human rights in the form of summary executions, enforced disappearances and torture occur routinely and those who seek justice are persecuted, threatened and executed. Yet, there are countless number of people who raise their voice to seek justice and to protect the rights of others.
- Category: Statements
20 March 2018
To our friends and colleagues in KontraS,
Warm greetings on your 20th Anniversary!
On this occasion, the Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances (AFAD) salutes the women and men of KontraS who worked ard to establish the organization and to develop it to full maturity as the most spected human rights organization in Indonesia. The human rights activism of our sisters and brothers in KontraS is making a huge difference in the lives of victims of human rights violations in this vast Southeast Asian archipelago, whose dark history is marred with the blood of innumerable victims.
- Category: Statements
As the world celebrates the International Women’s Day, the Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances (AFAD) pays tribute to all women who have been relentlessly struggling for truth and justice. AFAD remembers the women victims of enforced disappearance – those who have been forcibly disappeared as well as those whose lives have been gravely affected by the phenomenon of enforced disappearance even as they continue to fight bravely against it.
- Category: Press Releases
Press Release
28 February 2018
For twenty-four years, the Association of Parents of Disappeared Persons (APDP) and its individual members and volunteers have been campaigning against the phenomenon of enforced or involuntary disappearances in Jammu and Kashmir, wherein more than 8000 people have disappeared since 1989. The campaign has been to search and remember the disappeared, affirm the disappeared families’ right to know the truth, right to justice and reparations, and to demand that the government ratify and implement the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance.
- Category: Press Releases
Press Release
17 February 2018
Maina Sunuwar’s Case: 14 years of Impunity
In April 2017, after a 13-year-long legal battle the Kavrepalanchowk (Kavre) District Court convicted three soldiers namely Babi Khatri, Sunil Prasad Adhikari and Amit Pun involved in the murder of Maina Sunuwar.1 While the Court acquitted a fourth soldier namely Major Niranjan Basnet, who is still serving the army, three were given sentence to 20 years’ imprisonment.
However, the Nepal army in September 2017 filed the petition in the Supreme Court to vacate the decision of the District Court. The army has claimed: (1) that the principle of double jeopardy was violated, on the argument that the army has already prosecuted the three convicted officers, (2) that the case comes under the jurisdiction of the Transitional Justice system rather than the criminal justice system, and (3) that as the incident took place under a military operation and therefore military rules should be applied. The petition also argues that all other conflict era cases should not be placed under the jurisdiction of the Court.