Sixteen human rights organisations today called on the Indian authorities to immediately stop the reprisals against human rights defenders and organizations in Jammu and Kashmir, especially Khurram Parvez, Irfan Mehraj, and the Jammu and Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society (JKCCS). Khurram Parvez[1] has been arbitrarily detained since 22 November 2021 as a reprisal for his [ Read more ]

(Bangkok/Kathmandu, 12 May 2023) – The Asian Forum For Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) expresses its deep concern over the worsening human rights situation in Pakistan, including reports of violent protests, mass arrests, fatalities, and internet shutdowns following the arrest of former prime minister Imran Khan.  Khan’s arrest is the latest in Pakistan’s ongoing political [ Read more ]

(Bangkok, 12 April 2023) – The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA), together with its 32 members, calls on the Indonesian Government to immediately and unconditionally drop all charges against human rights defenders Fatia Maulidiyanti and Haris Azhar. FORUM-ASIA also asks Indonesian authorities to refrain from enacting further reprisals against dissenting voices in [ Read more ]

His Excellency Dr. Jose Ramos-Horta President Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste Dear Mr. President: The undersigned 413 Myanmar, Timorese, regional and international civil society organizations strongly urge Your Excellency, along with the National Commission for Elections (CNE) President Dr. Jose Agostinho da Costa Belo Pereira, and the Network of Jurisdictional and Electoral Administration Bodies of Portuguese [ Read more ]

Adoption of the UN Human Rights Council resolution on Myanmar by consensus once again demonstrates that the Myanmar military is running out of allies and deals a huge yet another blow to the junta’s campaign for international recognition and legitimacy. The resolution, adopted without a vote at the end of the 52nd regular session of [ Read more ]

52nd regular session of the UN Human Rights Council Item 6: Adoption of Universal Periodic Review outcomes of the Philippines Oral statement delivered by Rosemarie Trajano On behalf of Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) 24 March 2023   FORUM-ASIA together with its partner organisations in the Philippines appreciate the Philippine government’s participation [ Read more ]

  52nd regular session of the UN Human Rights Council Item 10: General debate on technical assistance and capacity building Joint oral statement delivered by Chhime Namdol Sherpa On behalf of Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) 3 April 2023   Mr. President, The implementation of the technical cooperation and capacity building mandate [ Read more ]

We stand in solidarity with M. Ravi, a capital defence lawyer and human rights defender in Singapore with over twenty years of experience. On 21 March 2023, the Court of Three Judges imposed a five year suspension under s83(1)(b) of the Legal Profession Act 1986. M. Ravi was also ordered to pay the costs of [ Read more ]

(Bangkok/Kathmandu – 30 March 2023) –  The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) is gravely concerned by the arrest of Kashmiri human rights defenders Irfan Mehraj and Khurram Parvez by India’s National Investigation Agency (NIA). Their arrest is the latest instance of continued reprisals against human rights defenders, including journalists, in Indian-Administered Kashmir. [ Read more ]

52nd regular session of the UN Human Rights Council Item 6: Adoption of the Universal Periodic Outcomes of India   Statement delivered by Ahmed Adam On behalf of Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA), International Federation of Human Rights (FIDH), International Service for Human Rights, CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation and World [ Read more ]