For Immediate Release
May 15 , 2006
Contact: Daniel J. Johnson
[email protected]/847.543.0630
www.iffampac.org
IFFAMPAC Celebrates the Contributions of Family Associations in Helping Families Affected by Armed Conflict
Rockford, Illinois. The International Federation for Family Association of Missing Persons from Armed Conflict (IFFAMPAC) joins the United Nations in marking the International Day of Families on May 15, 2006. In the face of tremendous loss, family associations have proven to be effective advocates for helping families to manage the psychological, socio-economic, and legal challenges of losing family members during periods of war and armed conflict.
War and violence affect the lives of ordinary people all over the world and have profound direct and indirect impacts on the integrity of families. On this annual day of observance we celebrate the advances that families have made in forging strong and supportive families associations. However, we must also recognize that substantial challenges remain in ensuring that families remain together during and after periods of armed conflict. The disruption of food supplies, the disintegration and displacement of families and communities, and the destruction of civilian infrastructure all take heavy tolls on the integrity of families and have especially long-lasting effects on children.
IFFAMPAC focuses on helping the surviving families of armed conflict who face tremendous social, economic, legal, and cultural challenges when a primary economic provider of the family vanishes and cannot be accounted for as a result of conflict.
IFFAMPAC is working in a joint effort with the International Humanitarian Law Subcommittee of the International Human Rights Committee of the International Section of the American Bar Association to develop a new model international law and to develop best practices guidelines to address the issue of the missing.