The Centre for monitoring Free and Fair Elections and Democratic Rights (MENIKE) has expressed its deepest concern over the escalation of election related incidents in a number of areas. This statement was issued in Sri Lanka on 7 January 2010. The Centre for monitoring Free and Fair Elections and Democratic Rights (MENIKE) has expressed its deepest [ Read more ]

This is a statement to announce the launch of the ASEAN civil society Framework Instrument on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Migrant Workers last December 2009 by the Task Force on ASEAN Migrant Workers. Below is a statement to announce the launch of the ASEAN civil society Framework Instrument on the Protection and [ Read more ]

The Asia Pacific Refugee Rights Network released a joint statement of 68 non-governmental organisations on 14 January 2010, calling on all governments in Asia Pacific to respect the fundamental principle of non-refoulement. Their statement, below, also condemns forced deportation of the Uighurs from Cambodia and the Lao Hmong from Thailand. The Asia Pacific Refugee Rights [ Read more ]

On 4 January 2010, the Ang Ladlad LGBT Party (Ang Ladlad) submitted a petition to the Supreme Court of the Philippines challenging the decision of the Commission on Elections (COMELEC). Ang Ladlad is a national organisation of Filipino lesbians, gays, bisexuals, and transgendered people active in advocating LGBT rights in the Philippines. In an amicus [ Read more ]

According to documents submitted by the Beijing Public Security Bureau (PSB) to the Beijing Municipal Procuratorate at the conclusion of the PSB's investigation, detained activist and intellectual Liu Xiaobo should be charged with "inciting subversion of state power" because he "drafted Charter 08 together with others, which is a major crime." This is the first [ Read more ]

The Government of India has been actively considering amendments to the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA). In this regard, the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Amendment Bill 2009 has been listed for discussion during the ongoing winter session of the Parliament. (Source: Peoples' Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR), 2 December 2009) The Government of [ Read more ]

The Japanese government continues its dialogue with the US government on relocation of a US base in Okinawa, southern Japan. Violence against Women in War Network, a civil society organisation in Japan, voiced in a letter on 2 December 2009 to the Prime Minister to dismantle all the US bases in the country. The Japanese [ Read more ]

The Mangyan, indigenous people of the Philippines, conducted a hunger strike for more than two weeks calling on the government to cancel the certificate issued to a Norwegian mining company. On 27 November 2009 the strike was called off, as the government revoked the certificate temporarily. Below is the strikers' and its supporters' statement, issued [ Read more ]

FORUM-ASIA member SUARAM launched its "Malaysia Civil and Political Rights Report 2009" on 9 December 2009. Although a new leader came into power with reforms and greater respect for human rights in April this year, the report highlights that human rights abuses still remain today. FORUM-ASIA member SUARAM launched its "Malaysia Civil and Political Rights [ Read more ]

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has expressed concern over injuries to a seven-year-old girl in firing by Frontier Corps personnel on a car in Peshawar, and demanded a credible probe into the incident. (Source: 3 December 2009, FORUM-ASIA member HRCP) Lahore: The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has expressed concern over injuries [ Read more ]