Despite its promises in 2007, the government of Indonesia has not ratified the UN Convention on Protection from Enforced Disappearance. Civil society organisations including Komisi Untuk Orang Hilang dan Korban Tindak Kekerasan (KontraS), a FORUM-ASIA member, highlighted the "great slowness" of the process in a statement here, issued on 17 April 2009. Despite its promises [ Read more ]

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), FORUM-ASIA member, condemned the former president's speech denying the involvement of the state in involuntary disappearances. Here is their press release, issued on 28 April 2009. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), FORUM-ASIA member, condemned the former president's speech denying the involvement of the state in involuntary [ Read more ]

Thirty-eight representatives from civil society organisations and labour unions gathered in Singapore, on 16-17 April 2009, for the country's national consultation on protection and promotion of the rights of migrant workers. They recommended on the government of Singapore to protect well-being of the migrant workers, which amount to be nearly 800,000. Thirty-eight representatives from civil [ Read more ]

Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), FORUM-ASIA member, issued a press release on 14 April condemning the "ignominious capitulation" to back the Nizam-e-Adl Regulation for Malakand Division, northwest of the country. The division will have another system of administration for justice under this regulation. Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), FORUM-ASIA member, issued a press [ Read more ]

The amendments of Nepal's Regulation on Film in February increase censorship, said a joint statement of three non-governmental organisations in Nepal, issued on 31 March 2009. The organisations, ARTICLE 19, Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ) and Freedom Forum (FF), further pointed out that the government will has bigger control over distribution of film under the [ Read more ]

This year commemorated the 20th anniversary of the Tiananmen massacre, which began on 14 April 1989. One writer who was arrested back then was again interrogated on 31 March 2009, for writing about the crackdown. Here is the press release by Chinese Human Rights Defenders, issued on the day. This year commemorated the 20th anniversary [ Read more ]

Five members of the Federation Trade Unions Burma were arrested in Rangoon on 1 April 2009. The federation issued a statement on 8 April, calling for their release and abide by international conventions Burma has ratified. Five members of the Federation Trade Unions Burma were arrested in Rangoon on 1 April 2009. The federation issued [ Read more ]

Afghan women No matter how the US president Barack Obama has shown his eagerness to dialogue with Taliban, women's rights in Afghanistan continue to be ignored, abused. The AsiaNews commented on 9 March 2009 that the possibility of return of Taliban is feared to mean "going backward". Discrimination for women in Afghanistan is more relevant [ Read more ]

To cope with the present economic slowdown, the Malaysian government is urging companies to fire migrant workers first. 47 organisations, including FORUM-ASIA and its member Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM), called on the Malaysian government to stop this "Foreign Workers First Out" policy, by issuing a statement on 14 March 2009. Stop "Foreign Workers To cope [ Read more ]

The Working Group on Labour and Migration of Solidarity for Asian Peoples' Advocacy (SAPA) issued the "Joint position on the perspectives & strategies of Asian migrants on the global economic crisis" on 25 February 2009. Analysing the present global economic crisis and its impact on migrant workers, the working group shows its stand to protect [ Read more ]