In 2022, FORUM-ASIA in collaboration with our local partners undertook research in Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, the Philippines and Myanmar to understand the impact of harmful business operations, unfair labour practices and exploitative development projects on the rights of communities and the environment. The findings from the field research in these six countries were [ Read more ]

South Asia comprises eight countries—Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka—and stands as a densely populated region, housing approximately one-and-a-half billion people with diverse ethnicities, cultures, and religious beliefs. While not classified among the primary economic powerhouses globally, the region—excluding Afghanistan—has progressively entered the arena of competitive economies, marked by extensive trade [ Read more ]

The ANNI Report 2023 is a biennial report on the performance and establishment of national human rights institutions (NHRIs) in Asia. ANNI published its first report in 2007 and it continued to be published as an annual report till 2019, barring a few years in between. Since 2021, the report has been following a biennial [ Read more ]

The fact-finding mission specifically aimed to unearth human rights violations and abuses related to fundamental freedoms of expression, association, and peaceful assembly faced by three distinct groups: women, youth and marginalized within the Madhesh province of Nepal. This mission seeks to shed light on the challenges and opportunities faced by these groups, ultimately aiming to [ Read more ]

The Lumbini Province experienced a record number of human rights violation cases in the year 2022, with the majority of cases coming from the Women, Youth, and Marginalised (WYM) population. This situation shows how different aspects of a person’s identity, such as their gender, caste, ethnicity, religion, job, family background, community, and where they live, [ Read more ]

FORUM-ASIA thanks its members, partners, donors, and supporters for making 2022 a meaningful year. We are excited to share with you our 2022 Annual Report. In 2022, human rights defenders across Asia came together to tackle and conquer some of the region’s biggest social, political, and economic challenges. FORUM-ASIA witnessed how its member organisations deftly [ Read more ]

FORUM-ASIA takes great pride in announcing the launch of Defending in Numbers – Rising Together Against All Odds, a comprehensive publication that delves into the significant obstacles faced by human rights advocates in Asia during the years 2021 and 2022. Despite the gradual recovery from the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the region experienced [ Read more ]

This report, titled “State of Disruption: Assessing the Impact of Malaysia’s COVID-19 Laws on Civic Space,” is a collaborative effort between FORUM-ASIA, SUARAM and Pusat KOMAS. Following the footsteps of neighbouring governments, Malaysia’s Perikatan Nasional (PN) government enforced stringent measures in 2020 to combat the spread of COVID-19. These measures included targeted Movement Control Orders [ Read more ]

 Over the years, Mongolia has witnessed significant improvements in indicators on human rights and fundamental freedoms. However, the country’s progress is currently being threatened as a result of its mineral wealth. In 2020, the government’s commitment to re-prioritise mining and increase its contribution to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) has left many communities vulnerable [ Read more ]

The fight for human rights is an ongoing struggle and defenders face an array of obstacles and threats. In recent years, the situation has worsened, with governments imposing repressive laws, online harassment becoming more prevalent, and an increase in threats and harassment of the families of HRDs. Furthermore, the COVID-19 pandemic has created new challenges [ Read more ]