The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) strongly condemns the forced conscription of Myanmar youth as ordered by the military junta on 10 February 2024. The People’s Military Service Law requires young men ages 18 to 35 and women ages 18 to 27 to serve for up to two years in the military, with possible [ Read more ]

Ahead of Taiwan’s general election on 13 January 2024, the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) calls on the government to preserve its democracy and allow for the will of the people to transpire through free and fair elections.  Taiwan is set to elect its President and Vice President alongside the members of [ Read more ]

The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) welcomes the Muntinlupa City Regional Trial Court’s decision to grant bail to former Philippine senator Leila de Lima on 13 November 2023. Released from jail after nearly seven years in detention, the bail allows for de Lima’s temporary liberty. She is currently facing her third and [ Read more ]

The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) condemns the murder of Filipino radio journalist Juan Jumalon.  We urge Philippine authorities to thoroughly investigate the case and to ensure accountability and justice.  From home, Jumalon was broadcasting his morning programme on 94.7 Gold FM Calamba’s Facebook page when he was shot to death by [ Read more ]

For immediate release 3 November 2023 Judicial harassment was the most common violation experienced by human rights defenders (HRDs) in Asia from 2021 to 2022. State actors–such as the police–were the top perpetrators. The forum coincides with the 25th anniversary of the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, which requires states to protect HRDs. Nevertheless, [ Read more ]

ASEAN and the UN Security Council (UNSC) must immediately join forces to move beyond the current Five-Point Consensus (5PC) and coordinate effective actions to cease the Myanmar military junta’s escalating atrocity crimes, said Progressive Voice (PV), Alternative ASEAN Network on Burma (ALTSEAN-Burma), and the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA). While ASEAN continues [ Read more ]

The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) welcomes the acquittal of Thai pro-democracy human rights defenders Ekachai Hongkangwan, Boonkueanun Paothong, Suranat Paenprasert and two others, including a minor, of blocking traffic during pro-democracy demonstrations in 2020. The case dates back to 14 October 2020, concerning a rally in Bangkok calling for democratic reforms, [ Read more ]

The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) applauds the recommendation of Meta’s Oversight Board to suspend Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen’s Facebook and Instagram accounts for six months for violating rules regarding violent threats and removal of the video. The Oversight Board operates independently but is funded by Meta Platforms, which owns Facebook and Instagram. The decision came on [ Read more ]

  For immediate release 22 June 2023 Human rights defenders across Asia suffer numerous violations FORUM-ASIA launches a new report highlighting the many forms of injustice and harassment endured by human rights defenders working in Asia. In 2021 and 2022, as many as 1,636 violations were committed against human rights defenders across 22 monitored Asian countries. [ Read more ]

The Special Review must lead to the suspension or removal of Myanmar National Human Rights Commission (1 June 2023) The CSO Working Group on Independent National Human Rights Institution (Burma-Myanmar) (“Working Group”) and the Asian NGO Network on National Human Rights Institutions (ANNI) made a joint civil society submission to the Global Alliance of National [ Read more ]