The International Monetary Fund and the World Bank Group (IMF-WBG) are gearing to reform themselves as a response to heightening crises of our generation. At the Annual Meetings last 9 to 15 October, the institutions brought together states, multilateral institutions, IFIs, and civil society to discuss critical matters on delivering impact in the context of [ Read more ]

CIVICUS, a global civil society alliance, Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) and Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) are gravely concerned about the use of disproportionate force during demonstrations led by the main opposition party in Dhaka on 28 October 2023. Our organisations call for an independent and impartial investigation into the violations [ Read more ]

The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) calls on the Government of Indonesia to live up to its commitment to improve human rights protection at the national, regional, and international levels, following its re-election as a member of the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC) for the 2024-2026 term.  On 10 October 2023 [ Read more ]

(Bangkok, 19 October 2023) – The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) is deeply disturbed by the escalating violence and spiralling death toll in Gaza and Israel. The recent events have had devastating impacts on all civilian life, worsening an already volatile human rights situation and humanitarian catastrophe in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. [ Read more ]

(Bangkok, 18 October 2023) – The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) and 26 member organisations express are gravely concerned over the alleged arms trade between three Indonesian state-owned weapons manufacturers and the Myanmar military junta. We call on the Government of Indonesia to thoroughly investigate the matter and to cease all activities [ Read more ]

The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) and Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM) condemn the conviction of youth activist Wong Yan Ke. Wong’s conviction represents Malaysia’s tightening grip on civic space, particularly against youth defenders who have been leading the country’s political activism in recent years. We urge the Government of Malaysia to quash [ Read more ]

  54th regular session of the UN Human Rights Council Item 10: General Debate on the technical assistance and capacity building Oral statement delivered by Ahmed Adam On behalf of Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) 11 October 2023   Mr. President, Technical assistance and capacity building component of the Council’s mandate cannot [ Read more ]

  54th regular session of the UN Human Rights Council Item 10: Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Cambodia Oral statement delivered by Ahmed Adam On behalf of Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) 10 October 2023   Mr. President, We welcome the Special Rapporteur’s report. [ Read more ]

BANGLADESH: Civil society organisations come together to demand the release of Adilur Rahman Khan and Nasiruddin Elan On 3 October 2023, civil society organisations (CSOs) working across different parts of Asia joined forces to call for the immediate release of Bangladeshi human rights defenders Adilur Rahman Khan and Nasiruddin Elan. Khan and Elan are part [ Read more ]

 (Bangkok, 29 September 2023) –  The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) is calling for the immediate release of human rights defenders detained by the Taliban in Afghanistan, namely, Zholia Parsi, Neda Parwani, Matiullah Wesa, Rasul Abdi Parsi, and Mortaza Behboodi. On 27 September 2023, the Taliban reportedly arrested women’s rights defender Zholia [ Read more ]