Invitation to the 6th International Conference Against Disappearances 9- 12 December 2010, London

Invitation to

the 6^th International Conference Against Disappearances

9- 12 December 2010, London

Humanity, which entered the 21^st Century with the pain and suffering of exploitation, poverty, repression, torture, massacres and disappearances under custody, has added new destruction and pain to its sufferings. Brought about by war and occupation, massacres have been carried out in order to suppress national movements within the first 10 years of the Century.

On the other hand, the desires and aspirations of people who live under repression, exploitation and misery for a free and human life continue to be suppressed through all kinds of violent methods. The people opposing the current system, struggling for democratic rights and freedoms, working towards independence, become the target of states or the forces supported by the states.

As a method used by the ruling forces of keeping people under pressure, intimidation and annihilation - and the policy of disappearing people under custody - also continues at full speed. Through the method of disappearing people under custody, the ruling forces are not only aiming to disappear people physically by kidnapping and murdering individuals opposing the system - and burying them to unknown places - but also to frighten, intimidate and bow the heads of the entire society and particularly the relatives of the disappeared.

ICAD has been struggling against the disappearances policy of states and supporting other campaigners since its foundation in May 1996, following an international conference that involved the active participation of the relatives of disappeared people, the courageous people fighting against disappearances under custody, human rights activists and democratic mass organisations. By organising international conferences, ICAD brings together the relatives of the disappeared, organisations struggling against disappearances under custody and human rights violations from different countries of the world, to share their pain, anger and experiences with each other. It also provides them with an opportunity to discuss and build upon joint struggles. ICAD is organising this year’s conference against disappearances under the heading of “Wars, National Movements and Disappearances”. Every year, thousands of people are disappearing due to wars and occupations in many parts of our world, particularly in the Middle East and Afghanistan. Moreover, thousands of people are being 'made disappeared' as dirty wars are carried out against the nations who are fighting for national liberation against colonialism.

The 6^th International Conference Against Disappearances on 9-12 December 2010 in London will address these current issues and discuss the direction of disappearances policies and the perspectives of struggle against it. The conference is going to assemble many relatives of the disappeared from different continents and countries of the world, human rights activists, intellectuals and the forces of democracy and freedom. 

Everyone who wants to strengthen the struggle against disappearances, and thus to give an end to disappearances and human rights violations; to uncover the whereabouts of disappeared people and bring perpetrators to justice; all forces of democracy and freedom that stand against repression and exploitation; human rights activists, intellectuals, writers and artists are invited to the conference.

Our invitation is to the people and organisations who want to hear the screams of the relatives of the disappeared, and to be the voice and heart of disappeared people.

ICAD International Office