The upcoming referendum on the draft constitution in Thailand has met with voices of dissent from human rights defenders, which have promptly been suppressed by government and security officials. In a press statement, FORUM-ASIA urges the Thai military government to ensure that all citizens are able to enjoy their right to free speech. (Bangkok) FORUM-ASIA [ Read more ]

Two female Korean hostages were released by the Taliban on Monday, 13 August. While rejoicing that at least two innocent lives have been saved, civil society continues to call on the UN as well as the US and Afghan governments to play a more proactive role to resolve the hostage crisis in Afghanistan. The Asian [ Read more ]

FORUM-ASIA members, INFORM and Law and Society Trust, are concerned that visit by UN Under Secretary General on Humanitarian Affairs, Mr. John Holmes, to Sri Lanka has been marred by the heavy presence of the military.  Their inability to meet freely with the UN representative demonstrates increasing threats to NGO workers. As civil society organizations [ Read more ]

The Director of the national human rights institution of Indonesia has been receiving threats on his life after giving a report on human rights violations committed by the Indonesian military to the UN Special Representative on Human Rights Defenders. FORUM-ASIA wrote to Indonesian president to express its distress over this threat. The Asian Forum for [ Read more ]

Indigenous Peoples consistently face marginalisation and discrimination. FORUM-ASIA calls for the United Nations Generally Assembly to adopt the Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. (Bangkok) On this International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, FORUM-ASIA wishes to extend solidarity to Indigenous Peoples, nations and organisations in Asia and throughout the world. We would like [ Read more ]

A joint statement released by FORUM-ASIA and its member organisations in South Korea, People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy (PSPD) and Korean House for International Solidarity (KHIS), demands that the Taliban free all 21 remaining hostages unconditionally and immediately and well as urges the governments of the US and Afghanistan to engage in resolving conflict through [ Read more ]

People’s Solidarity for Participatory Democracy, a FORUM-ASIA member in South Korea, joins together with 78 civil society organisations to call for the safe return of aid workers taken hostage by the Taliban. This statement and public appeal urges the public to join their yellow ribbon campaign. Today (August 7) 78 civil society organizations focusing on [ Read more ]

Ms. Noeleen Heyzer is the new Under-Secretary General for the United Nations Economic Commission for Asia-Pacific (UNESCAP) in Bangkok, Thailand.  Her appointment is a great accomplishment towards advancing women’s empowerment in Asia. The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) joins the world in congratulating Ms. Noeleen Heyzer from Singapore for her appointment as [ Read more ]

The Malaysian Internal Security Act (ISA) has been in force for 47 years, used to stifle dissent and detain prisoners of conscience. FORUM-ASIA member GMI calls for the abolishment of the ISA and all forms of detention without trial. Today August 1, 2007 marks the 47th anniversary of the enactment of the notorious Internal Security [ Read more ]

Cambodia’s National Assembly and Senate passed the Law on Counter-Terrorism (LCT) on 26 June 2007 and 10 July 2007, respectively, currently awaiting the signature of the king before it can come into effect. There is concern about the implications of this law for the human rights defenders in the country.  When Cambodia’s National Assembly and [ Read more ]