On the eve of the Bretton Woods Conference in 1944, then-US Treasury Secretary Henry Morgenthau claimed that in order for the post-war global financial architecture to be successful, it was necessary to drive “the usurious money lenders from the temple of international finance”, and to make capital serve “the general welfare.” As global multilateralism reaches [ Read more ]

53rd regular session of the UN Human Rights Council Item 4: Interactive dialogue on the written update of the High Commissioner on the situation of human rights in Myanmar   Oral statement delivered by Ahmed Adam On behalf of Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) 5 July 2023   Mr. President, We welcome [ Read more ]

(Bangkok, 28 June 2023) – Prioritise people over profits. In light of French President Emmanuel Macron’s recent visit to Mongolia—in support of uranium mining—the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) reminds the Mongolian Government of its international human rights obligation to protect people from potential human rights violations committed by business enterprises. Likewise, we urge mining companies [ Read more ]

To H.E. Mr. Song Doo-hwan Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK)   3 July 2023 Open Letter to the National Human Rights Commission of Korea   Re: The anti-human rights behaviour of Lee Choong-sang, a Standing Commissioner of the National Human Rights Commission of Korea Honourable Chairperson, The Asian NGOs Network [ Read more ]

(30 June 2023, Bangkok/Kuala Lumpur) The Asian NGO Network on National Human Rights Institutions (ANNI) and Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM) express concern about the recent civil defamation suit filed by the Chairperson of Suruhanjaya Hak Asasi Manusia (SUHAKAM) (“Commission”) – the national human rights institution of Malaysia – against the Deputy Secretary of the Commission. [ Read more ]

53rd regular session of the UN Human Rights Council Item 3: Interactive dialogue with the Working Group on the issue of human rights and transnational corporations and other business enterprises Oral statement delivered by Zia-ur-Rehman On behalf of Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) 27 June 2023   Mr. President, We share the [ Read more ]

53rd regular session of the UN Human Rights Council Panel discussion on the measures necessary to find durable solutions to the Rohingya crisis and to end all forms of human rights violations and abuses against Rohingya Muslims and other minorities in Myanmar   Oral statement delivered by Ahmed Adam On behalf of Asian Forum for [ Read more ]

Today, 26th June 2023, we are commemorating the 25th International Day in Support of Victims of Torture. On this occasion we want to draw the attention of the global citizens to the exceptionally grim picture of torture in India and call for effective programs to counter the situation. As early as 1981, the Supreme Court [ Read more ]

53rd regular session of the UN Human Rights Council Item 2: Interactive Dialogue on the annual report of the High Commissioner Oral statement delivered by Ahmed Adam On behalf of Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) 21 June 2023   Mr. President, We thank the High Commissioner for his annual report. We share [ Read more ]

(Bangkok, 23 June 2023) We, the undersigned organisations, express grave concern over the recent arbitrary arrest, detention, and silencing of several environmental human rights defenders (EHRDs) speaking out against harmful business operations supported by the government. The arrest of environmentalist Hoang Thi Minh Hong, her husband and two staff members on 31 May 2023 on [ Read more ]