Asian Federation Against 
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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.
AFAD mourns the passing of Edcel Lagman
The Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances (AFAD) mourns the passing of Edcel Lagman, a towering figure in Philippine legislation and an unwavering champion of human rights, democracy, and social justice. From his early years as a lawyer defending workers’ rights under Martial Law to his long tenure in Congress, Lagman stood at the forefront of critical battles, pushing for human rights protections, social justice, and reproductive health, measures. He never wavered in his pursuit of truth and accountability. He challenged authoritarianism and defended the marginalized.
India: Three years of arbitrary detention of Kashmiri human rights defender Khurram Parvez
November 21, 2024 - On November 22, 2024, Khurram Parvez, a prominent Kashmiri human rights defender, will mark three years of wrongful incarceration on unsubstantiated charges of terrorism and related offences. His arrest is a deliberate act of reprisal for his work documenting severe human rights violations in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir. The continued judicial harassment of Khurram Parvez is a calculated assault on civil society and dissent in Kashmir. We, the undersigned human rights organisations, reiterate our unequivocal calls for Khurram’s immediate and unconditional release.
Bangladesh: An Outburst of Hope for South Asia
AFAD commends the people and interim government of Bangladesh for taking the historic step of becoming a state party to the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearances (ICPPED). By signing the Instrument of Accession and submitting it to the UN Headquarters, Bangladesh has shown a firm commitment to fully implement the provisions of the Convention.
