Association of Parents of Disappeared Persons (APDP)
The Association of Parents of Disappeared Persons (APDP) was founded in 1994 by Paveena Ahangar with other family members of victims of enforced and involuntary disappearances in Kashmir.
APDP seeks justice for the families of the disappeared and provides them with help to get their cases investigated, while actively campaigning for information on the whereabouts of missing family members. The organization estimates that 8,000 -10,000 men have been subjected to enforced disappearances by Indian forces since 1990. Only a miniscule percentage of these have been investigated.
APDP members come together on the 10th of each month to hold public protests in Srinagar, to commemorate the disappearances of their loved ones and to seek answers from the Indian state.
APDP has expanded its mandate to support all victims of human rights abuses in Kashmir, including torture victims, prisoners, and those injured in firing by Indian forces, especially by pellet guns.
APDP provides medical, educational, social, psychological and legal support and advice to the victim families and gathers documentation on the disappearances.
The organization represents approximately 1000 families of victims of human rights abuses.
APDP is an independent organization and has no political affiliation or political position.
Human rights defenders in India face a diverse range of attacks and harassment from state and non-state actors alike, including killing, physical assault, arbitrary detention, threats and judicial harassment. Police officials are often the perpetrators of violence against HRDs, which is usually carried out with impunity. Armed groups and private companies also target HRDs for work related to economic development projects and their impact on the local communities or the environment. HRDs are increasingly the targets of online smear campaigns by radical nationalists.
