(Bangkok, 19 October 2022) — Former senator and chairperson of the Commission on Human Rights of the Philippines, Leila de Lima, should be released immediately and unconditionally, said the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) following a recent hostage-taking incident. On 9 October, three convicts allegedly linked to local terrorist groups stabbed a [ Read more ]

The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) expresses concern over the implications to human rights and democracy of the continued application of certain provisions of the Republic of Korea’s (South Korea) National Security Act (Act No. 11042, or the NSA). FORUM-ASIA has submitted an amicus brief to the Constitutional Court of Korea for [ Read more ]

(7 October 2022, Bangkok) — In a suicide attack on Kaj Education Center in Dasht-e-Barchi West Kabul on 30 September, 53 civilians were killed, among them at least 46 young girls. Approximately 110 were injured.[1] The attack targeted Hazara students who gathered to take a university mock exam in West Kabul, an area home to [ Read more ]

  51st regular session of the UN Human Rights Council Item 4: General Debate on Human Rights Situations that Require the Council’s Attention   Delivered by Ahmed Adam On behalf of Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA), International Service for Human Rights (ISHR), World Organisation against Torture (OMCT), CIVICUS – World Alliance for [ Read more ]

 51st regular session of the UN Human Rights Council Item 4: Interactive Dialogue on the oral update of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar   Delivered by Khin Ohmar On behalf of Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA)  21 September 2022   Mr. President, The Myanmar military junta, [ Read more ]

  51st regular session of the UN Human Rights Council Item 4: Interactive dialogue on the report of OHCHR on the the progress made and remaining challenges with regard to the recommendations of the independent international fact-finding mission on Myanmar in its conference room paper on the economic interests of the military   Delivered by [ Read more ]

51st regular session of the UN Human Rights Council Item 2: General debate on the oral update by the High Commissioner   Delivered by Ahmed Adam On behalf of Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA)  14 September 2022     Mr. Vice President, We welcome the Acting High Commissioner’s update and congratulate Mr. [ Read more ]

(Bangkok/Kathmandu, 14 September 2022) ‒ Bangladeshi authorities should put an immediate end to the continuous judicial harassment against human rights organisation Odhikar, and its leadership and staff. The government must urgently take the necessary steps towards creating an enabling environment for civil society and human rights defenders to work without fear of reprisals, said the [ Read more ]

  51st regular session of the UN Human Rights Council Item 2: Interactive dialogue on the report of OHCHR on promoting reconciliation, accountability and human rights in Sri Lanka   Delivered by Nuwan Sanjeewa Bopege On behalf of Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA)  12 September 2022   Mr. President, Sri Lanka is [ Read more ]

51st  regular session of the UN Human Rights Council Item 2: Interactive dialogue on the report of Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar   Delivered by Priyal Sepaha On behalf of Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA)  12 September 2022 Mr President, FORUM-ASIA welcomes the report of the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar and [ Read more ]