Human rights defenders are facing harassment from police after organizing a People’s Tribunal on Torture in Kolkatta. Charges are being lodged against them for impersonating a police officer or juror and criminal conspiracy. FORUM-ASIA is urging the government to drop the chargers and respect human rights in line with its commitment to do so when [ Read more ]

FORUM-ASIA’s member organisation in Nepal, INSEC, along with 52 human rights organisations and civil society representatives has launched on June 1, the “Year long campaign against Impunity”. On that day, a mass demonstration was held in Kathmandu and the calendar of the campaign was made public. A Citizen Task force of 113 human rights defenders [ Read more ]

In conjunction with the launching of its 2007 Human Rights Report on Civil and Political Rights on 19 June, SUARAM has called on all political parties in power to initiate genuine human rights reforms in the systems and governance structure in line with the people’s wish as reflected in the March 8 General Elections. SUARAM [ Read more ]

FORUM-ASIA member in Timor Leste, the Judicial System Monitoring Programme (JSMP) has expressed its concern that perpetrators of crimes against humanity are being released or granted clemency. The human rights NGO has questioned the government on its liberal treatment of those released, as it should not disregard the rule of law although the country is [ Read more ]

While human rights activists welcomed the release of a suspected nuclear black market dealer, they insist that about 65 other detainees currently held under the Internal Security Act, should also be freed. The Abolish ISA Movement maintains that ISA is indefensible and unjustifiable in any circumstances and should be abolished immediately.  Malaysia told to release [ Read more ]

The Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESR) in Geneva has drawn attention to the impediments to the realization of economic, social and cultural rights, especially the right to food, in India. India’s hunger for economic, social and cultural rights The 40th session of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) which [ Read more ]

On the occasion of International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, Informal Sector Service Centre (INSEC) urges the government to fulfill its international obligations for the protection of the rights of victims of torture. For the first time in Nepal, the 2007 Interim Constitution has made torture a criminal offense. However, the Torture Compensation [ Read more ]

Indonesia has announced a government regulation to give witnesses and victims of gross human rights violations compensation, restitution and aid. However, the Coalition of Witnesses and Victims Protection say that the regulation is flawed in many ways and would hamper the victims rights. They will seek judicial review if the regulations continue to be implemented [ Read more ]

What is the point of press freedom laws if journalists still go to jail? The Independent Journalists Alliance (AJI) of Indonesia calls  for end to criminalization of journalists based on their reports and calls on disputing parties to refer to the Press Council following the case of Risang Bima Wijaya. Journalists still go to jail after [ Read more ]

FORUM-ASIA echoes the voices of other NGOs who are keenly observing the development of the ASEAN human rights body. As States appoint their representatives from either civil society or bureaucrats to draft the terms for the body, activists want their inputs to be considered as well. Pokpong Lawansiri writes a commentary to urge ASEAN not [ Read more ]