6th AFAD Congress

Theme: Strengthening AFAD in its Second Decade of Struggle Towards
a More Effective and Enduring Response to Enforced Disappearance

Negombo, Sri Lanka
December 12-­‐17, 2017

The Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances (AFAD) recently held its 6th Congress in Negombo, Sri Lanka last December 12-­‐17, 2017. True to the theme of the Congress, the concerted efforts of the AFAD members have laid the foundation for further strengthening AFAD, and have prepared the organization to respond more effectively and consistently to enforced disappearance.

Below is a brief yet concise summary of the results of the recently concluded Congress.

AFAD 6th Congress, Three years in review

As AFAD opens it 6th Congress, let us look back and review the federation's work in the three years.

AFAD Holds Congress in Sri Lanka, Scores Asian Governments’ Tepid Response to Enforced Disappearance

PRESS STATEMENT

17 December 2017

"As enforced disappearance respects no age, gender, race, creed, religion, or ideology and is committed in a borderless geography, AFAD consolidates its 14 member organizations across Asia in Bangladesh, Indian administered Jammu and Kashmir, Indonesia, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Timor-Leste, and South Korea, and individual members in Laos and Switzerland. AFAD rallies its members to intensify their collective struggle to protect the absolute right not to be subjected to enforced disappearance in solidarity with all the peoples of Asia and the whole world."

Leaving No Stone Unturned: The Continuing Search for Truth and Justice for Sombath Somphone

Today marks the fifth anniversary of the enforced disappearance of Sombath Somphone, a staunch Lao civil society leader and community development activist who advocated for rural community-based development, especially among the youth. On the fateful evening of December 15, 2012, Sombath was abducted by policemen in Vientiane. Evidence obtained of Sombath’s abduction was caught on CCTV, where it showed that he was stopped and taken away on a pickup truck in front of the police station. Laotian authorities immediately denied any involvement in his abduction, which speaks volumes of the palpable culture of impunity in the country that is felt significantly to this day.