37th Regular Session of the UN Human Rights Council Item 3: Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief Oral Statement Delivered by Rosanna Ocampo on behalf of Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) Friday, 02 March 2018 Mr. President, FORUM-ASIA welcomes the report of the Special Rapporteur on [ Read more ]

37th Regular Session of the UN Human Rights Council Item 3: Interactive Dialogue with UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, Mr. Michel Forst Oral Statement Delivered by Sejin Kim on behalf of Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) Thursday, 1 March 2018 Mr. President, FORUM-ASIA appreciates the report of [ Read more ]

(Bangkok/Kathmandu, 12 February, 2018) – The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) is deeply saddened by the sudden demise of eminent human rights defender, lawyer and social activist Asma Jahangir in Lahore, after she suffered a cardiac arrest on 11 February 2018. Asma Jahangir was known for her social activities in Pakistan and [ Read more ]

(Bangkok, 9 February 2018) – The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) welcomes the move of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to proceed with the preliminary examination of complaints in relation to alleged crimes falling within its jurisdiction under the ‘war on drugs’ in the Philippines. It was confirmed by the Prosecutor of [ Read more ]

(Jakarta, 6 February 2018) Commission for the Disappeared and Victims of Violence (KontraS), Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI), Human Rights Working Group (HRWG), Alliance of Indigenous People of Nusantara (AMAN) and Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) appreciate the Government of Indonesia’s initiative to invite the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mr. [ Read more ]

(Bangkok/Kathmandu, 1 February 2018): The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) expresses serious concern over the transferring of the case of Junaid Hafeez to yet another judge. Junaid, a lecturer at Bahauddin Zakariya University in Multan, Pakistan, was arrested in March 2013 and was charged with allegedly committing blasphemy on Facebook, a charge [ Read more ]

(Bangkok/Jakarta, 26 January 2018) – The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) welcomes Singapore as the Chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) 2018. During the 26th Meeting of the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) in Singapore on 24-26 January 2018, FORUM-ASIA reiterated its message to the Government of [ Read more ]

(Bangkok/Kathmandu, 3 January, 2018): The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) expresses serious concern over death threats and online intimidation against Shahindha Ismail, the Executive Director of the Maldivian Democracy Network (MDN). On 21 December 2017, Shahindha responded to a speech by President Abdulla Yameen, in which he declared that Islam would be [ Read more ]

(Bangkok, 22 December 2017) – The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) gravely condemns Indian Immigration authorities’ decision to refuse entry to Mukunda Raj Kattel, Director of FORUM-ASIA in the country. He was denied entry by the Immigration Department at Tiruchirappalli International Airport, Tamil Nadu, India. On 19 December 2017, Mukunda arrived at [ Read more ]

(New Delhi, 16 December 2017) – Condemning the Government of Pakistan’s closure of over 20 international aid agencies “without any verifiable cause”, a group of international civil society organisations have described the decision as part of a growing and worrying trend of shrinking space for civil society and repression of human rights across South Asia. [ Read more ]