Today, 29 November 2016, is the 10th International Women Human Rights Defenders (WHRDs) Day. As the world celebrates this day, the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) calls once again for the continued need of strengthening the protection of all WHRDs, as well as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex (LGBTI) rights defenders [ Read more ]

(Bangkok, 27 November 2016) – The Asian NGO Network on National Human Rights Institutions (ANNI), together with its member, Progressive Voice,[1] is deeply concerned over the human rights situation in Rakhine State of Burma/Myanmar. We strongly urge the Government to abide by its international responsibility to protect human rights in its territory, and call on [ Read more ]

26 November 2016 – We, the undersigned organisations, condemn the shameful execution of a Nigerian national, Chijioke Stephen Obioha, and a Malaysian national, Devendran a/l Supramaniam in Singapore on 18 November 2016, which runs counter to global trends towards abolition of capital punishment. Around the same time, at the 50th and 51st meeting of the [ Read more ]

(Kuala Lumpur, 21 November 2016) –  The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA), Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law and Development (APWLD), Fortify Rights, Human Rights Watch, the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ), and Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA), acting as international observers of the Bersih 5 rallies and related events, are calling [ Read more ]

We the undersigned civil society organisations[1], recognise the importance of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16 as a strong and effective mechanism to fight corruption in the ASEAN region together with promoting transparency, accountability and people’s participation in governance. The ASEAN Vision 2025 emphasises on strengthening democracy, good governance, and the rule of law, promotion and [ Read more ]

To, Justice (Retd.) H.L. Dattu, Chairperson, National Human Rights Commission, New Delhi, India. Subject – Intervene Urgently in FCRA Non-Renewal of Centre for Promotion of Social Concerns, End Systematic Attacks on HRDs and Ensure Freedom of Association in India Respected Chairperson of the Indian NHRC, We, the human rights defenders from 24 countries gathered in [ Read more ]

(Bangkok/Kathmandu, 4 November 2016) – The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) is deeply concerned over the Government of India’s decision to black out NDTV India, a leading Hindi language news channel, for a day. With an unprecedented decision, the inter-ministerial committee of the Union Ministry of Information Broadcasting (IB Ministry) ordered to [ Read more ]

Joint Press Release  The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders (The Observatory) The Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances (AFAD) The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) Human Rights Defenders Alert – India (HRDA) The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) The International Coalition Against Enforced Disappearances (ICAED) Odhikar Bangkok-Dhaka-Geneva-Madurai-Paris-Quezon City, 26 October [ Read more ]

The National Commission for Justice and Peace, a rights based organisation of Pakistan Catholic Bishops’ Conference, strongly condemns the tragic attack on the police training centre that has killed over 61 people and more than 165 are injured. His Excellency Bishop Dr. Joseph Arshad, Chairperson of NCJP (Bishop of Faisalabad) and Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Yousaf [ Read more ]

PHNOM PENH, 19 October 2016 — We, the undersigned civil society organizations, are deeply concerned by the escalating political crisis in Cambodia. We call for a halt to all government repression of critical voices, and a concerted international effort to ensure the fulfillment of the commitments enshrined in the Paris Peace Accords on Cambodia, signed [ Read more ]