Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances

Rms. 310311 Philippine Social Science Center

Building

Commonwealth Avenue, Diliman, 1103 Quezon City Philippines Telefax 004324546759 Telephone Number 0O{32427t15!X Mobile UJ534777924055 Email afad@surfshop.nelph website www.afad-online.org

Bangkok, Thailand 26 November 20ll

MRS. NAVI PILLAY High Commissioner for Human Rights Office ofthe High Commission for Human Rights

Her Excellency Navi Pillay,

Wann greetings!
The Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances (AFAD), a regional federation of human rights organizations directly working on enforced disappearances fiom Bangladesh, krdia, Indonesia, Nepal, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Timor Leste would like to congrahrlate you for your great contribution to the protection of human rights. Our Federation is also the Focal Point of the International Coalition Against Enforced Disappearances (ICAED), which is a global coalition of 40 member-organizations campaigning for the ratification of the Intemational Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearances (the Convention). As we are concluding our 201 1 Council meeting, we deem it appropriate to address you with regard to the scourge of enfolced disappearances in our region. As we all know, such violations continue to take place tlroughout the continent affecting thousands of people and their families. As underlined by the LJN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances in its last annual repor! Asia has submined thahighest number ofcases. On this occasion, may we call on you to continue devoting particular attention to the Asian region and to spend your effort to tackle the phenomenon of enforced disappearance, establishing the truth on the fate and whereabouts of the disappeared and gurantee redress to victims and their families.

Corollary to tlis, may we call your attention to the 2009 Report of the International People's Tribunal on Human Rights and Justice, entitled: " Buried Evidence: A Report on Unknown, Unmarked and Mass Graves in Indian Administered Kashmir," which concems 2,700 graves that contain 2,930 remains of victims of human rights violations, which might belong to those who disappeared. This report was submitted to ths UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappemances in March 2010.
The AFAD appeals on you to reiterate fte crucial importance of States to seriously engage in the fight against impunity and enforce by all means their obligation to investigate, prosecute and sanction those responsible for enforced disappearance and serious international crimes.
The AFAD urges you to call on all Asian States to

to recognize the

competence of the Committee Articles 31 and 32 of the Convention.

ratfy and fully implement the Convention and on Enforced Disappearances (CED) pursuant to

May we request you to firrdrer call on Asian States to adopt domestic legislation to criminalize the autonomous offense of enforced disappearance and to ensure &e prevention and punistrment of
this practice.

Finally, we look forward to an active engagement with you through a consfructive and fruiffirl dialogue with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) as it continues to respond to the human rights situation, in particular in Asia.
Thank you very much.

TI{E COTTNCIL
ASIAI\ FEDERATION
ITWOLTJNTARY DISAPPEARANCES

ANTO
Secretary General

D. BACALSO

MANDIRA SHARMA
Treasurer

.-A-Z*E/*/<L KHAN
ADILT'R RAHMAN OdhikarAssociation of Parents of the

Indonesian Association of Families

of

sappeared (IKOHI)

Indonesia

commission ror the

o*u*"r.J*li,floifiIt#

(KonbaS)

JANAK BAIIADUR RAUT Conflict Victims' Society of Justice (CVSJ) - Nepal

@-

Indonesia

&A-or (e:H4
AMBAR BAHADUR RAUT

Families of the Disappeared (FOD)

v4e4-

- Sri Lanka '

BOONTHAN VERAWONGSE
Relatives Comminee of May 1992 Heroes - Thailand