We, the undersigned civil society organizations, urge the government of Singapore to order the Elections Department (ELD) to immediately withdraw its police report against New Naratif, and to cease abusing the law to harass critical voices and independent journalists. On 18 September 2020, Singapore’s Elections Department released a press statement in which it stated that [ Read more ]

For Immediate Release India: Amnesty International Forced to Halt Work Government Increasingly Targeting Rights Groups (New York, September 30, 2020) – Amnesty International India announced that it is halting its work in the country after the Indian government froze its bank accounts in an act of reprisal for the organization’s human rights work. Fifteen international [ Read more ]

Singapore: Take steps towards the abolition of the death penalty (Bangkok/Singapore, 30 September 2020) – Singapore should take steps towards the total abolition of the death penalty, keeping in mind the international human rights standards on the right to life, and the absolute prohibition of torture and cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment and punishment, the [ Read more ]

Thailand: Address ongoing threats to life against Lertsak Kumkongsak and environmental human rights defenders (Jakarta, 24 September 2020) – The death threats and the ongoing intimidation of an environmental human rights defender (EHRD), Lertsak Kumkongsak showcase the mounting threats faced by human rights defenders in Thailand today. The Government has the obligation to ensure the [ Read more ]

India: Stop the  false accusations and arrests of human rights defenders in the Delhi riots case (Bangkok/Kathmandu, 24 , September 2020) ‒ The Indian government must stop the arrests and drop all charges against nine academics, student leaders, human rights defenders  and activists in the Delhi riots case and the targeted use of draconian provisions [ Read more ]

45 th Regular Session of the UN Human Rights Council Item 4: Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar Oral Statement Delivered by Ahmed Adam On behalf of the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) Tuesday, 22 September 2020  Madam President, FORUM-ASIA welcomes the Special [ Read more ]

45th Regular Session of the UN Human Rights Council Item 2: Enhanced Interactive Dialogue on the High Commissioner’s report on the situation of human rights of Rohingya and other ethnic minorities in Myanmar Oral Statement Delivered by Ahmed Adam On behalf of the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) Monday, 14 September 2020 [ Read more ]

Thailand: Protect fundamental freedoms in the upcoming protests (Jakarta, 18 September 2020) ‒ International human rights organisations are calling on the Government of Thailand to observe international human rights laws and standards ahead of a planned protest expected to attract tens of thousands to Bangkok this weekend. ‘We urge the Thai government to observe its commitment to [ Read more ]

India: End the incarceration and harassment of human rights defenders in the Bhima Koregaon case (Bangkok/Kathmandu, 17 September 2020) ‒ The recent arrests of cultural activists Sagar Gorkhe, Ramesh Gaichor and Jyoti Jagtap this month in relation to the Bhima Koregaon case is a vicious targeting of human rights defenders aimed at instilling fear and [ Read more ]

45th Regular Session of the UN Human Rights Council Item 2: General Debate on the oral update by the High Commissioner Oral Statement Delivered by Dhwani Nagpal On behalf of the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) Monday, 14 September 2020   Madam President, FORUM-ASIA welcomes the High Commissioner’s update and echoes her [ Read more ]