December 20th - The United Nations General
Assembly approved our International Convention for the Protection
of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance. This has become
a most welcomed news for us all after years of drafting
the text and lobbying and campaigning for the Convention
as the instrument which will soon write off disappearances
in the future. This gives us more reasons to celebrate the
end of a fruitful year.
Upon the foundation of our Federation of Asian human rights
organizations working directly on the issue of enforced
disappearances in 1998, it has joined FEDEFAM and other
regional formations in the fight against impunity; in the
struggle against disappearances. Bound by solidarity and
universal pain, the Asian families of the disappeared have
joined the Latin American families of Desaparecidos and
the rest of the victims in the world in demanding justice
to each and every member of their families who have been
secretly detained, tortured and made to suffer tremendously.
The strength of their joint efforts has been the prime mover
of our every march for " aparicion con vida;"
(or surface the disappeared alive) of each step we took
towards truth, justice, redress and recuperation of historical
memory.
From the moment French Ambassador Bernard Kessedjian pounded
his gavel saying yes to the drafted text of the Convention
on September 22, 2005, we have since rejoiced for the successful
series of approvals these past months. We have much to thank
the French government for its important role in bringing
before many governments the significance and urgency of
our cause.
AFAD finds the coming of this great news very timely as
it has just finished its Third Congress in Kathmandu, Nepal.
All member-organizations came envisioning a world without
disappearances. And we have all been gathered together by
the call to "forge a global respect for the Right Not
to be Disappeared," in line with our consistent effort
to institutionalize the protection of all persons from enforced
disappearances throughout the world.
This renewed international recognition of every person's
right to life has provided a good ending to this eventful
chapter in our struggle. And now as we come closer to the
New Year, we hope that 2007 will bring more than just empty
sunbursts of fireworks but a brighter and more substantial
illumination of hope in the ratification and signing of
the Convention. We call upon all governments to put an end
to suffering, impunity and disappearances by ratifying and
signing the Convention and later, by implementing it through
effective national legislations. We challenge them to commit
more than just paper but concrete actions!
We have achieved much this year but we know we still have
much to accomplish in the coming year. But most certainly,
with your support we can and shall achieve more!
Congratulations to us all!
Always in solidarity,
MUGIYANTO, Chairperson
MARY AILEEN BACALSO, Secretary-General
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