8/3/2019 Letter to UNWGEID re the re the case of AFAD Council Member from Kashmir, India, Mr. Parvez Imroz, a human rig

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Asian Federation Against Involuntary DisappearancesRms. 310-311 Philippine Social Science Center BuildingCommonwealth Avenue, Dilimarl 1103 Quezon Clty PhilippinesTelefa* {[16324546759 Telephone Number 0G632-92745!t4 Mobile W63-9177924t58Email afad@sUffrhSp.nelph website www.afad-online.oqg

November 26,11Bangkok, Thailand

The Chairperson and MembersUnited Nations Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary DisappearancesGeneva, SwitzerlandSubiect Issue of denial of Riglrt to Travel to the Human rigfrts defender Advocate ParvezImroz of Jammu & Kashmir.

Esteemed Chairperson and Members of the UN WGEID,

We, Council members of the Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances (AFAD),would like to bring to the attention of the UN WGEID the continuous denial of traveldocumenb of Mr. Parvez Imroz, AFAD Council mernber representing the Association ofParents of Disappeared Persons (APDP) in Kashmir, India. As you are fully aware, theAFAD has been continuously campaigning against the phenomenon of enforceddisappearances in whole Asia. hr the course of our work for truth, justicg reparation, redressand memoy, our member-organizations are actively engaged to participate in conferences,workshops and meetings organized in different countries.Unfortunately, our Council Member from Kashmir, India Mr. Parvez Introz, a human rightslawyer and legal advisor of Association of Parents of Disappeared Persons (APDP) has notbeen able to participate in our activities because of the continuous denial of travel documentssince 2004.After expiry of his passport in 2004, Mr. Imroz apptied for a new one. But till date, thepassport has not been issued without any explanation. [:t 2006, he was awarded theprestigious Ludovic Trarieux Award and the organizers, including the human rightsdefenders appealed to the Indian state to issue him the travel documents so he could receivethe award, but the appeal was rejected. Our Council Member was invited to present thehuman riglrts situation particularly on disappearances in Kashmir atmany intemational forabut due to denial of travel documents, he could not participate. In 2ffi, Mr. Imroz launcheda campaign for passport titled as, "Campaign for Right to Travel, ' but there was noresponse from the government of India.The denial of travel documents is used as a matter of policy to prevent and control the voicesof defenders from Kashmir. Our Council Member has been deprived of this universallyrecognized right to freedom of movement, which is guaranteed under Article 13 of theUniversal Declaration on Human Rights and Article 12 of hrternational Covenant of Civiland Political Rights (ICCPR). Article 12 of the ICCP& which hrdia signed and ratified inL979, gtaranters that everyone has the right to leave the country including his own and thisright should not be restricted. Further, Art.24, Par.7 of the hrternational Convention for the

8/3/2019 Letter to UNWGEID re the re the case of AFAD Council Member from Kashmir, India, Mr. Parvez Imroz, a human rig

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Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance which India signed on 6 February2007 establishes that each State Party shall guarantee the right to form and participate freelyin organizations and associations concemed with attempting to establish the circumshncesof enforced disappearances and the fate of disappeared persons, and to assist victims ofenforced disappearance. The denial of travel documenb also hinders this right.It is therefore requested that the Working Group calls on the Govemment of India toimmediately issue travel documents to our Council Member and human rights lawyer fromJammu & Kashmir and not to put any restriction on his work.Thank you very much for your consideration.

c.c. Ms. Maryaret SekaggyaUN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders

THE COTJNCILASIAN FEDERATION AGAINST T'NTARY DISAPPEARANCES

D. BACALSOSecretary General

MANDIRA SHARMATreasurerkA^_AIIILUR RAHMAN KHANOdhikff - Bangladesh

Association of Parents of the Di ,po*' * Kashmir' IndiaIndonesian Association of Families of th Diqappeared (IKOHI) - lndonesia

YATI ANDRIYAI\TICommission for the Disappeared Victims of Violence (KontraS) - IndonesiaJANAK BAHADURRAUT

Conflict Victims' Society-of Justice (CVSJ) - NepalS,u^- (%.ffirgln BAHADIIR RAUTFamilies ofthe Disappeared (FOD) - Sri t^ankaW

BOONTIIAN \MRAWONGSERelatives Committee of May 1992 Heroes - Thailand

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