On 27 March 2006, the United Nations Commission on Human Rights will end its 60 years of existence with a procedural session of a mere three hours (1500hrs to 1800hrs Geneva time). NGOs have been permitted only 15 minutes of speaking time to present a single statement. In response to this disappointing decision, a joint [ Read more ]

FORUM-ASIA wrote to the Korean authorities calling for the immediate release of two Korean human rights defenders, detained during peaceful protests against the expansion of US military bases in South Korea. Expressing concern about peaceful protests being labeled "Interference with Government Officials in Execution of their Duties", FORUM-ASIA urged the Koreanauthorities to respect the right [ Read more ]

The Asian Forum Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) is deeply concerned about Singapore's use of defamation laws to silence political critics such as Opposition Leader Dr Chee Soon Juan.  This is a persistent problem in Singapore's judicialprocess that needs to be addressed urgently.The Asian Forum Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) is deeply concerned about Singapore’s [ Read more ]

As the world commemorates the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination on the theme of "Fighting Everyday Racism", FORUM-ASIA calls on all relevant stakeholders, particularly states, to bring an end to "everyday discrimination" based on work and descent, particularly against the Dalit community in Asia.As the world commemorates the International Day for the [ Read more ]

FORUM-ASIA has joined other organisations in calls to support the adoption of an important UN declaration. This is a document that seeks to protect persons from involuntary or enforced disappearances, and FORUM-ASIA has been promoting its adoption in two recent initiatives with other NGOs. One is with AFAD and the other is with 74 other [ Read more ]

As a regional human rights organization, FORUM-ASIA expresses our solidarity towards all Filipino human rights defenders struggling to defend universally recognized human rights and fundamental freedoms, at a time of serious political and governance crisis in the country. To: Citizens' Council for Human Rights (CCHR) C/o Boyet Mabunga, Secretary General Philippine Alliance of Human Rights [ Read more ]

Two years after and in spite of repeated calls for independent and comprehensive investigations into the disappearance of Thai prominent lawyer Somchai Neelaphaijit by his family, UN human rights experts, local, regional and international groups, Thai authorities have yet to answer the question: “Where is Somchai?”.Two years ago on 12 March 2004, prominent Thai human [ Read more ]

The Government of Singapore has warned that protests during the IMF-WB meeting in September will be met with restrictions, including caning of protestors. FORUM-ASIA with other civil society groups have put their names on an Open Letter to the Singapore PM expressing concerns over this pronouncement. Mr Lee Hsien Loong Prime Minister Republic of Singapore [ Read more ]

Countless questions abound as to how individuals and communities in Aceh have been affected by their experiences of the relief, reconstruction and development assistance programmes which have mounted in the wake of the disastrous Tsunami event on 26 December 2004. To seek answers to these queries, FORUM-ASIA (FA) will organise a press briefing on 8 [ Read more ]

While many international non-governmental organizations have openly welcomed the draft resolution on the United Nations Human Rights Council, FORUM-ASIA is concerned that there are less significant or substantive changes to the present Commission on Human Rights, which has been discredited for its double-standards and ineffectiveness. Although the draft resolution puts forth various technical changes, it [ Read more ]