(Bangkok/Kathmandu, 14 June 2022) — The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) condemns the arbitrary deregistration of Odhikar by the NGO Affairs Bureau (NGOAB) of Bangladesh. Odhikar, a prominent human rights organisation in Bangladesh and a member of FORUM-ASIA, had applied for renewal[1] of its registration to the NGOAB in 2014, as mandated [ Read more ]

Today, we mark a year since the arrest of human rights defender and lawyer Chow Hang Tung. CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation, Asia Democracy Network (ADN), and Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) call for her immediate and unconditional release. We also call for the release of other activists in detention and [ Read more ]

(Bangkok/Kathmandu, 1 June 2022) — The arrest of prominent Kashmiri journalist Fahad Shah under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) 1967 and the Public Safety Act (PSA) 1978 highlights the growing crackdown on press freedom and is the latest blow to freedom of expression in Indian-Administered Kashmir. This is Shah’s fifth arrest under the draconian [ Read more ]

(Bangkok, 26 May 2022) — The Asian NGOs Network on National Human Rights I­­nstitutions (ANNI) and Civil Society and Human Rights Network (CSHRN) condemn the dissolution of the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC) on 17 May by the De Facto Regime of Taliban. The dissolution demonstrates the Taliban’s continued disregard of the rule of [ Read more ]

We, the following 32 human rights organizations, call on the Cambodian authorities to revoke the Sub-Decree on the Establishment of the National Internet Gateway (NIG). Since passage of the sub-decree on February 16, 2021, the government has yet to address the serious human rights concerns raised by civil society groups and tech companies. At the [ Read more ]

We, the 765 undersigned Myanmar, regional and international organizations, are gravely concerned by the outcome of the Consultative Meeting on ASEAN Humanitarian Assistance to Myanmar that puts the military junta in control of humanitarian aid distribution in Myanmar. Our organizations believe that this decision will enable the military junta  to weaponize humanitarian aid to gain [ Read more ]

In the early hours of 20th April, over 500 Rohingya refugees, including 97 women, 294 men, and 137 children, escaped from a detention centre in Sungai Bakap. It was later confirmed that 7 of those who fled were killed tragically in a traffic accident, including three young children. Over the following days, at least 467 people [ Read more ]

(Bangkok/Kathmandu, 29 April 2022) – The excessive use of force by security personnel on peaceful protestors in Sri Lanka on 19 April has led to the death of a peaceful protestor. FORUM ASIA strongly condemns the crackdown by Sri Lankan authorities on the peaceful protestors who were exercising their fundamental rights. The Police’s excessive and [ Read more ]

One year on, since adopting the Five-Point Consensus on Myanmar, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and its member states have not achieved any progress in addressing the human rights and humanitarian crisis perpetrated by the military junta. We, the undersigned organisations, condemn the inaction of ASEAN and urge the regional bloc to move [ Read more ]

As the Philippines prepare to vote in the presidential elections on 9 May 2022, the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) and the Philippine Alliance for Human Rights Advocates (PAHRA), urge all presidential candidates to publicly commit to protection and promotion of fundamental freedoms and human rights, create a safe and enabling environment [ Read more ]