(Bangkok, 16 March 2015) – The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA), expresses deep sadness and concern following the twin bomb blasts at Catholic churches during Sunday mass in Lahore yesterday (15 March) that resulted in the deaths of 15 worshippers and scores of others injured. These attacks – responsibility for which was [ Read more ]

Mr. President, I am delivering this statement on behalf of FIDH, ARTICLE 19, Reporters Without Borders, the Cairo Institute for Human Rights and  FORUM-ASIA. In 2011, by adopting resolution 16/18, this Council departed from the divisive and human rights incompa­tible concept of “defamation of religions”, in favor of a human rights approach. However, in 2015 [ Read more ]

(Bangkok, 12 March 2015) – On the 11th Anniversary of the disappearance of Somchai Neelapaijit, a prominent human rights lawyer and former chair of the Muslim Attorney Centre, the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) strongly reiterates its call for the government of Thailand to bring the perpetrators responsible for Somchai Neelapaijit’s disappearance [ Read more ]

28th Regular Session of the UN Human Rights Council Oral Statement Delivered by Renato Mabunga on behalf of Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) Tuesday, 10 March 2015 Thank you Mr. President. We welcome the report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders[1], and congratulate him on the roadmap [ Read more ]

As we commemorate International Women’s Day, FORUM-ASIA joins the international community in celebrating the  achievements of women worldwide and pay tribute to their significant contribution to international peace, human rights and development. We celebrate, particularly the  women human rights defenders’ (WHRDs) courageous struggle towards advancement of all human rights. In Asia, WHRDs are often victims [ Read more ]

28th Regular Session of the UN Human Rights Council Oral Statement Delivered by R Iniyan Ilango on behalf of Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) Thursday, 5 March 2015 Thank you Mr. President. The High Commissioner’s Annual report notes the creation of the OHCHR Investigation on Sri Lanka (OISL) as tasked by this [ Read more ]

In 2014 Sri Lankan human rights defenders (HRDs) faced a number violations as enumerated below. A new government is in place after elections in January 2015 and it has made some positive commitments on investigating past reprisals against HRDs and journalists. Despite some such positive signs it’s not clear yet if the culture of impunity [ Read more ]

Update 19 February 2015: Interim stay on the arrest of activist Teesta Setalvad and her husband Javed Anand have been extended until the final judgment of their application for anticipatory bail by the Supreme Court of India. The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) hopes that the court would grant them the relief [ Read more ]

Asian Solidarity Conference for Accountability and Justice in Sri Lanka Bangkok, 31 January-1 February 2015 We, more than 60 human rights defenders and civil society activists from 17 countries across Asia gathered in Bangkok to discuss and express solidarity for accountability and justice in Sri Lanka; Paying tribute to all those who struggled and continue [ Read more ]

Five years on and despite repeated calls for independent, impartial and effective investigations into the abduction and killing of human rights defender Pattani Razeek by his family and local, regional and international groups, the Sri Lankan government has failed to shed light on his case. On 11 February 2010, Pattani Razeek was last seen in [ Read more ]