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Recognising the extent of the phenomenon of enforced disappearances in the Euro-Mediterranean region, the International Federation of Human Rights (FIDH) organised the first Euro-Mediterranean meeting of representatives and families of the 'disappeared' in partnership with the Collectif des familles de disparus en Algérie (CFDA) and the Mouvement de soutien aux libanais détenus arbitrairement (SOLIDA). From 7 to 11 February 2000 in Paris, Geneva and Brussels, the first Euro-Mediterranean meeting brought together families of the 'disappeared' and their representatives from the Mediterranean region, support committees and national and international human rights NGOs.

At the end of this meeting, aware of the importance of unifying their respective movements of denunciation and struggle against enforced disappearances, the need to form a larger and more structured entity at the service of the families of the disappeared became apparent. The Euro-Mediterranean Coalition against Enforced Disappearances was thus created and formalized. The challenge is to fight more effectively against enforced disappearances in the countries around the Mediterranean.

In June 2005, during the Mediterranean Social Forum (FSMED) organized in Barcelona, the members of the Coalition recognized the need to formalize their alliance by giving a legal existence to the Coalition, which until then had only been informal. In May 2007, the Constitutive Assembly was organized in Beirut, Lebanon. This Assembly includes the following associations: SOLIDA (support for Lebanese arbitrarily detained) and the Lebanese Center for Human Rights (CLDH); the Collective of Families of the Disappeared in Algeria, (CFDA) and SOS Disparus; the Association of Parents and Friends of the Disappeared in Morocco (APADM), the Coordinating Committee of the Families of the Disappeared in Morocco (the CCFDM), and Mothers for Peace of Turkey.

The Euro-Mediterranean Federation against Enforced Disappearances (FEMED) succeeded the Coalition, and was officially born on May 27, 2007. Legal and strategic issues are discussed and decided. Statutes and rules of procedure are adopted. An executive committee and a board of directors were elected. The founding members had initially planned to locate the headquarters of FEMED in Beirut, but the political context made it impossible to register the organization in Lebanon. The headquarters was therefore temporarily transferred to Paris. Since January 31, 2008, FEMED is registered in France.

Today, FEMED gathers 26 member associations from 12 different countries:

Algeria: Collectif des Familles de Disparu(e)s en Algérie (CFDA), SOS Disparu(e)s, Djazaïrouna and Somoud

Bosnia-Herzegovina: the Mothers of Srebrenica, the Women of Srebrenica, the Association of Killed and Missing Persons of Vrbanja

Cyprus: Association of Martyrs' Families and War Veterans (KKTC) and Truth Now

Spain: Association for the Recovery of the Historical Memory of Catalonia (ARMHC)

Iraq: Al Ata'a for Human Rights

Kosovo: "Shpresimi / Hope" Suhareka

Lebanon: The Lebanese Center for Human Rights (CLDH), SOLID, and the Committee of Families of Missing and Kidnapped Persons

Libya: Human Rights Solidarity

Morocco: Association of Parents and Friends of the Disappeared in Morocco (APADM), Committee of Families of the Disappeared, Moroccan Association for Human Rights (AMDH), Moroccan Organization for Human Rights (OMDH)

Serbia: The Association of Families of Kidnapped and Missing Persons from Kosovo and Metohija

Syria: The Committee for the Defense of Democracy freedoms and Human Rights in Syria (CDF)

Turkey: YAKAY-Der, IHD (Human Rights Association or Turkish League for Human Rights), Mothers for Peace and MEYA-Der

FEMED's main objectives

1. To contribute to ending enforced disappearances in the region
2. To establish the truth and justice in the tens of thousands of cases of enforced disappearances in the countries concerned
3. To fight against impunity
4. To contribute to the establishment of a true state of rights in each country of the Euro-Mediterranean region The different missions of the FEMED
5. To recognize the right to truth and justice of the victims of enforced disappearances in the countries of this region
6. To work for the right to truth and justice by shedding light on the fate of missing persons
7. Support the actions of associations of families of the disappeared
8. Strengthen the capacities and actions of FEMED member associations
9. To work for the guarantee of the non-repetition of these crimes
10. Supporting the reparation and rehabilitation of victims The different activities implemented by the FEMED
11. Training of member associations on international legal mechanisms for the protection of human rights
12. Advocacy missions before international organizations and national and European institutions
13. Participation in seminars for associations on topics related to enforced disappearances
14. Organization of conferences with associations on the theme of enforced disappearances
15. of testimonies in the field and their dissemination - Publication of the magazine "Duty of Truth
16. Participation in conferences on enforced disappearances
17. Promoting the ratification of the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance