15 April 2015 Call to Action to Member States of the United Nations: Support a better process for appointing the UN Secretary-General on 27 April   Excellencies, We are writing to ask for your support for a better process to appoint the UN Secretary-General at an important debate on 27 [ Read more ]

Global Citizens’ Declaration: A Call for an End to the Korean War and the Elimination of Nuclear Threats on the Korean Peninsula Let’s Create a Nuclear-Free World by Signing the Peace Treaty and Declaring a Nuclear-Free Zone   This declaration proposes a fundamental and comprehensive resolution of military tensions and the nuclear crisis around the [ Read more ]

Joint Oral Statement by Arab and Asian CSOs to CPD48 Commission on Population and Development Forty-Eighth Session United Nations, New York 13-17 April 2015   Speaking on behalf of a cross-regional group of civil society advocates representing Asian and Arab countries, I have the following messages and demands: Since the ICPD beyond 2014 Global Review, [ Read more ]

The Women Human Rights Defenders International Coalition (WHRDIC) calls on Wang Xiaohong, the Director of the Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau, Chairman Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang to immediately and unconditionally ensure the release the five young women human rights defenders who were criminally detained in China after they planned events to protest sexual [ Read more ]

  April 1, 2015 The Women Human Rights Defender International Coalition (WHRDIC) has serious concerns about the situation of women human rights defenders (WHRDs) Luz Estela Castro, Director of the Women’s Human Rights Center (CEDEHM) and Irma Villanueva, Director of the Legal Department of CEDEHM in Chihuahua, Mexico. The WHRDIC is aware of a campaign [ Read more ]

(Bangkok, 25 March 2015) – The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) is deeply concerned by the Draft Public Assembly Act (Draft Act) regulating public gatherings, including demonstrations that require prior notification. The Draft Act, which was proposed on 26 February 2015, is expected to be passed by the military junta-appointed National Legislative [ Read more ]

Oral Statement Delivered by R. Iniyan Ilango on behalf of Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) Monday, 23 March 2015 Thank you Mr. President. Article 76 of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action (VDPA) refers to the strengthening of regional arrangements for the promotion and protection of human rights. In this regard, [ Read more ]

One of the landmark achievements of the Vienna Declaration was the proposal to create the position of High Commissioner for Human Rights. For more than 20 years, successive High Commissioners have provided a strong and independent voice, committed to promoting and protecting human rights around the world. Today, that independence is under threat. The draft [ Read more ]

28th Regular Session of the UN Human Rights Council Oral Statement Delivered by Pornpen Khongkachonkiet on behalf of Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) Tuesday, 17 March 2015 Mr President, FORUM-ASIA expresses concern over the deteriorating human rights situation in a number of Asian countries. We draw this Council’s attention to the increasing [ Read more ]

28th Regular Session of the UN Human Rights Council Oral Statement Delivered by Khin Ohmar on behalf of Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) Tuesday, 16 March 2015 Thank you, Mr. President. FORUM-ASIA, in solidarity with Equality Myanmar and Burma Partnership welcomes the Special Rapporteur’s report.[1] It is timely in expressing concerns over [ Read more ]