43rd Regular Session of the UN Human Rights Council Item 3: Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, Michel Forst Oral Statement Delivered by Syme de Leon on behalf of  Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) Wednesday, 4 March 2020 Madam President, FORUM-ASIA welcomes the Special Rapporteur’s [ Read more ]

2 March, 2020 Joint statement by Amnesty International India, CIVCUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation, FORUM-ASIA and FIDH INDIA: INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY MUST CONDEMN CRIMES AGAINST THOSE PROTESTING PEACEFULLY AGAINST DISCRIMINATORY LAW As the UN Human Rights Council meets in Geneva to discuss human rights developments globally, we urge states to speak up against serious human [ Read more ]

43rd Session of the UN Human Rights Council Item 3 – Interactive Dialogue with the SR on Freedom of Religion and Belief 3 March 2020 Delivered by Budi Tjahjono – Franciscans International Madam President, We welcome the Special Rapporteur’s report on Sri Lanka. We wish to highlight continuing attacks on freedom of religion and belief, [ Read more ]

Joint Oral Statement: 43rd session of the Human Rights Council Item 2: General Debate on reports and oral updates of the High Commissioner and the Secretary-General   28 February 2020 Madam President, We are deeply concerned by indicators of a significant backsliding on human rights in Sri Lanka, underscored by the government using their address [ Read more ]

43rd Regular Session of the UN Human Rights Council Item 2: Interactive Dialogue on the High Commissioner’s Report on Rohingya and Other Minorities in Myanmar Oral Statement Delivered by Rosanna Ocampo On behalf of the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) Thursday, 27 February 2020 Madam President, FORUM-ASIA notes the High Commissioner’s report. [ Read more ]

43rd Regular Session of the UN Human Rights Council Item 2: General Debate on Reports and Updates of the High Commissioner and the Secretary-General Oral Statement Delivered by Ahmed Adam On behalf of the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) Friday, 28 February 2020 Madam President, we share the High Commissioner’s concerns about [ Read more ]

(24 February 2020) – The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) thanks the Committee on Public Services for its invitation to participate in the deliberations on the resolutions concerning ABS-CBN’s franchise renewal. FORUM-ASIA appreciates efforts by the Committee to ensure civil society voices are considered in their deliberations. FORUM-ASIA is a network of [ Read more ]

For Immediate Release Philippines: Free Senator; End Attacks on Rights Defenders Duterte Critic Leila de Lima Held 3 Years on Fabricated Charges (Manila, February 20, 2020) – Philippine authorities should immediately release Senator Leila de Lima, who has been detained for three years, and drop the politically motivated charges against her, Amnesty International, FORUM-ASIA, and [ Read more ]

Singapore: Use of Anti-Fake News Law reveals institutional framework that undermines the promotion and protection of human rights (11 February 2020) – Think Centre and the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) are gravely concerned about the recent use of the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA), an anti-fake news law, [ Read more ]

(Bangkok, 17 January 2020) –The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) calls on the Phnom Penh Municipal Court to ensure full transparency in the trial of the Cambodian opposition leader Kem Sokha, and reiterates the call of Cambodian civil society for a trial that is open to the public and independent media, and [ Read more ]