Human rights NGOs welcomed the appointment of High Level Panel members to draft terms of reference for the ASEAN human rights body, but called for it to ensure adequate participation of civil society representatives, from all sectors and thematic issues, at national and regional levels. "We also call on the Panel to make available its [ Read more ]

The Malaysian police credibility is once again put to the test. The unprofessional treatment and abuse of powers by the police in the arrest and investigation of former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim only further illustrates the urgent need for the establishment of the Independent Police Complaint and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC).    Blatant Abuse of Powers by [ Read more ]

The Malaysian police credibility is once again put to the test. The unprofessional treatment and abuse of powers by the police in the arrest and investigation of former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim only further illustrates the urgent need for the establishment of the Independent Police Complaint and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC).    Blatant Abuse of Powers by [ Read more ]

On 4 July 2008, the World Organization Against Torture and International Federation of Human Rights produced an annual monitoring report on the condition of human rights defenders. Jointly published by Informal Sector Service Centre and Advocacy Forum, the report details the persistence of human rights violations against human rights defenders. The persistence of violations against human [ Read more ]

FORUM ASIA’s member organization in Bangladesh, Odhikar, has monitored the human rights situation in Bangladesh. Covering the months from January to June 2008, the report revealed that the ongoing impunity of security forces throughout the country is one of the gravest concerns.  Bangladesh: Impunity of security forces gravest concern FORUM ASIA’s member organization in Bangladesh, Odhikar, [ Read more ]

The South Asia People's Secretariat is calling for delegates and guests from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal and Pakistan and across Sri Lanka to the South Asian Peoples Assembly (also known as Peoples SAARC) in Colombo, Sri Lanka between 18 and 20 July 2008.  South Asia People's Assembly 2008 The South Asia People's Secretariat [ Read more ]

The ratification of the Rome Statute in Nepal has been stalled due to the current political upheaval. Human rights activists are pushing for the government to accede to the Statute without delay. They have launched a month long campaign on the ratification of the statute and to hold the authorities accountable for its human rights [ Read more ]

Staff of the Commission on Human Rights of the Philippines (CHRP) and a member of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) were recently attacked while they were on mission in the island of Limaong, Zamboanga City to investige the murder case of Madal Barorong, a human rights activist. FORUM-ASIA has communicated with the UN Special [ Read more ]

Twenty seven Malaysian civil society organisations, including FORUM-ASIA member, SUARAM, has urged Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi to immediately assure the public that the army would not be deployed in civilian matters. FORUM-ASIA has also issued an open letter to Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to reject the deployment of armed forces to handle civilian matters and respect [ Read more ]

Open letter!           FORUM-ASIA has issued an open letter to the Prime Minister of Mongolia, urging the government to end the current state of emergency, refrain from any use of violence and torture against detainees, allow them legal representation and let the media operate freely to promote free access to information [ Read more ]