By Raqib Hameed Naik, TwoCircles.net
Srinagar: Philippines-based Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances (AFAD) headed won the Democracy and Human Rights Award for its efforts to resolve the problem of forced disappearances in Asia, even as its Chairman, Khurram Parvez, continues to languish in the jail for almost two months.
The award was established by Taiwan Foundation for Democracy, a non-profit organization aimed at promoting democracy and human rights in 2006 to recognize individuals or organizations in Asia who have made significant contributions to promoting democracy through peaceful means.
According to a Taiwan based news channel Focus Taiwan Su Jia-Chyuan, chairman of the Foundation for Democracy announced the winner at a press conference on November 11.
He said, “The AFAD has made indelible contributions in pushing states to address the rights of families of the disappeared and in seeking justice for the victims.”
AFAD was chosen from a pool of 11 candidates by a rigorous two-stage reviewing process.
Founded in 1998 in Manila, AFAD facilitates searches for people who are abducted or imprisoned by a state or political organisation, and works to ensure the attainment of truth, justice, redress and the reconstruction of the collective memory of the missing.
“This important recognition from the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy comes at a very sensitive time for AFAD, as its Chairperson has been kept in arbitrary detention in Indian- administered Kashmir since September 16, 2016,” said AFAD in a statement issued on its website.
“…enforced disappearances continue to be perpetrated to date in many Asian countries and families are still waiting for truth and justice to be done. AFAD itself and its leaders have been and continue to be persecuted to date.”
Recipients of the award include Reporters Without Borders, Rescue Foundation of India, End Child Prostitution, Child Pornography and Trafficking of Children for Sexual Purposes International, as well as Kim Seong-min, founder and director of Free North Korea Radio.
The official award ceremony will take place in Taipei on December 10th, 2016, International Human Rights Day. The award, which consists of a plaque and a $100,000.00 funding from the Government of Taiwan, will be received by the AFAD Secretary General, Mary Aileen DiezBacalso, and the Chairperson of the Defence of Human Rights and AFAD Council Member, Amina Masood.
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