United Nations Association of the National Capital Area (UNA-NCA) and The World Sindhi Institute (WSI) Invite you to a SEMINAR on the occasion of United Nations “INTERNATIONAL DAY OF THE DISAPPEARED” Date: August 30, 2007 Time: 3:00 to 5:00 pm Venue: 121 Cannon House Office Building 1 st St. & Independence Ave., S.E. , Washington , DC 20515

SPEAKERS:

Mr. David Smith, Deputy Director of United Nations Information Center : A journalist by profession, he has lived & worked in Argentina during the "dirty war" when many people were "disappeared" .

Mr. T. Kumar, Advocacy Director for Asia & Pacific, Amnesty International, USA : Mr. Kumar has extensively researched and raised the issue of disappearance as a human rights violation and has contributed immensely in highlighting this issue as a priority for all.

Mr. Manzoor Mirani, Sindhi Journalist: Coming from Sindh , Mr. Mirani will share the on-ground factual situation of disappearances and the condition of the missing activists' families.

Enforced disappearance or extra-judicial arrest is a grave violation of human rights. United Nations enforced disappearance occur when "persons are arrested, detained or abducted against their will or otherwise deprived of their liberty by officials of Government or by organized groups or private individuals acting on behalf of the Government, followed by a refusal to disclose the whereabouts of the persons concerned or a refusal to acknowledge the deprivation of their liberty". It is often a practice of oppressive regimes around the world, which use torture as a tool to control political and ideological opponents. This seminar highlights the issues surrounding enforced disappearances and the progression toward a resolution. Please come to demonstrate solidarity against this brutality. Share your views; give the victims a voice and their families a hope. Your participation will make a big difference!
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The United Nations Association of the National Capital Area (UNA-NCA) and its members work with foreign policy makers, political decision makers, schools, colleges, and universities, and non-profit and other organizations in the National Capital Area to build knowledge, understanding, informed opinion, and new ideas, on the United Nations and its specialized agencies. The Young Professionals for International Cooperation's Asia Pacific Committee is committed to creating awareness between the diverse sub-regions of the Asian continent; to distinguishing between and creating dialogue about the rich cultural differences in the region, including religion, language, and traditions. Furthermore, the committee will identify issues critical to the region such as conflict, socio-economic disparities, population and disease, among others while proposing solutions through discussion and decisive action. For more information, contact ypicasia-AT-unanca.org, or visit www.unanca.org

The World Sindhi Institute (WSI) is committed to achieving human rights for the people of Sindh in southeastern Pakistan through a nonviolent advocacy, activism, and academic campaign. WSI brings together Sindhis (people of Sindh) of all religious and geographical backgrounds and their supporters in a proactive, progressive movement whose purpose is to inform others of the human rights and environmental atrocities occurring in Sindh . WSI initiates and welcomes collaborative projects with other governmental and non-governmental organizations and individuals seeking positive, nonviolent change in South Asia and elsewhere.

For more information, contact 1050 17 th St. N.W., Ste. # 700 , Washington , DC 20036 , phone # 202-223-1777 or visit www.worldsindhi.org