54th regular session of the UN Human Rights Council Item 2: Interactive dialogue on the report of Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar Oral statement delivered by Ahmed Adam On behalf of Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) 11 September 2023   Mr. President, We welcome the report of the Independent Investigative Mechanism for [ Read more ]

As citizens of the Maldives prepare to cast their votes in presidential elections scheduled for 9 September 2023, the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) and CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation call upon all candidates and political parties to pledge their commitment to upholding and safeguarding civic freedoms as an integral part [ Read more ]

The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA)–alongside its member organisations–calls on the Government of Indonesia to provide clarity regarding Munir Said Thalib’s case and declare it as a grave violation of human rights. On 7 September 2004–on Garuda’s Jakarta-Amsterdam flight–Munir Said Thalib was killed by arsenic poisoning. Munir was a prominent Indonesian human [ Read more ]

(Bangkok, 28 August 2023) – The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) expresses its grave concerns over the disappearance of Lu Siwei, a renowned human rights defender and lawyer from China who was arrested while in transit in Laos. It has been a month since Lu disappeared. On 28 July 2023, Lu was arrested [ Read more ]

(Bangkok/Kathmandu, 25 August 2023) – The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) expresses deep concern over the recent introduction of three draft legislations that are set to replace major criminal laws in India. On 11 August 2023, the Union Home Minister of India introduced three bills in the Parliament, namely Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita; [ Read more ]

The Asian Forum for Development and Human Rights (FORUM-ASIA) and its six member organisations express deep concern over the recent attacks against minority Christians in Pakistan’s Jaranwala town in Punjab province. Following allegations of blasphemy against two Christian residents, a mob of hundreds of Muslims responded by burning down churches, vandalising homes, and destroying private [ Read more ]

(Bangkok/Kathmandu, 22 August 2023) – The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) condemns the Indian Government’s recent arbitrary blocking of the independent news outlet, The Kashmir Walla (TKW). On 19 August 2023, TKW’s website became inaccessible in India as it was blocked by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology under the Information [ Read more ]

22 August 2023 – We, the undersigned organisations, are in solidarity with human rights defenders (HRDs) in the Philippines. We support their continuing pursuit for the universality, indivisibility, and interdependence of human rights. We strongly condemn the renewed judicial harassment faced by ten HRDs who were acquitted of perjury on 9 January 2023. Previously, the [ Read more ]

(Bangkok/Kathmandu, 5 August 2023) – The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) expresses its serious concerns over India’s Digital Personal Data Protection Bill (DPDPB) 2023, citing lapses in parliamentary procedures and the lack of public consultation, alongside potential threats to freedom of expression and press freedom. The absence of transparent public consultations and [ Read more ]

The undersigned human rights organisations across Asia are in solidarity with  the people of Afghanistan. We call on the international community to hold the Taliban accountable for their human rights violations; to protect  the vulnerable groups; and to defend fundamental freedoms, especially those of women, girls, and ethnic and religious minorities in Afghanistan. For two [ Read more ]