FORUM-ASIA ’s Position Statement on Afghanistan Last updated: 31 August 2021 FORUM-ASIA stands in solidarity with all civilians of Afghanistan, especially, women, children, minorities as well as human rights defenders, journalists, civil society activists, academics, judges and lawyers and their families who are at heightened risk of violence, reprisals and persecution following the seizure of [ Read more ]

31st Special Session of the UN Human Rights Council on the serious human rights concerns and situation in Afghanistan Delivered by Ahmed Adam On behalf of Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) 24 August 2021   Madam President, The takeover of Afghanistan by the Taliban over the past week has dramatically escalated the [ Read more ]

17 August 2021 The undersigned organizations express their concern about the rapidly unfolding developments occurring in Afghanistan, including the entrance of Taliban troops in the capital Kabul on 15 August in violation of their February 2020 agreement with the government of the United States of America, the exile of President Ashraf Ghani, and growing numbers [ Read more ]

(19 May 2021) The threats, harassment, intimidation and attacks against human rights defenders, activists, journalists and media workers in Afghanistan must end – the undersigned international human rights organizations said. From September 2020 until May 2021, a total of 17 human rights defenders have been killed, including nine journalists, based on information compiled by the [ Read more ]

(March 10, 2021) – The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) and 40 other civil society organizations from around the globe, in a letter to the UNSC and UNAMA, highlight the wave of journalists’ killings in Afghanistan and urge them to stand in solidarity with the Afghan journalists to help ensure their safety [ Read more ]

(Bangkok/Kathmandu, 23 February 2021) – The targeted killings of prominent Afghans must end immediately to enable a secure environment for all Afghan people, said the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA). A United Nations convoy was attacked on February 11, killing five Afghan security forces members near Kabul.[1] On February 10, at least [ Read more ]

Date: 23 September 2020 To, H.E. Mr. Mohammad Haneef Atmar, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Afghanistan H.E. Dr. A.K. Abdul Momen, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Bangladesh H.E. Dr. Tandi Dorji, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Bhutan H.E Dr. S. Jaishankar, Minister of External Affairs, India H.E. Mr. Abdulla Shahid, Minster of Foreign Affairs, Maldives H.E. Mr. Pradeep [ Read more ]

Afghanistan: ANNI condemns the killing of two human rights defenders (Bangkok, 1 July 2020) ‒ The heightened violence and attacks against human rights defenders must be brought to an end if there is any hope for peace talks to be held in Afghanistan, a rights group said. In a statement, the Asian NGO Network on National [ Read more ]

(Bangkok/Kathmandu, 9 June 2020) – The upcoming intra-Afghan peace talks with the Taliban must seek to bring an end to conflict and impunity in the country. Following the Afghan government’s announcement on the upcoming intra-Afghan talks,[1] the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) and its member organisation in Afghanistan said that the peace [ Read more ]

(Bangkok/Kathmandu/Kabul, 2 December 2019) – The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) and its member in Afghanistan strongly condemns the arbitrary detention of human rights defenders Musa Mahmoodi and Ehsanullah Hamidi by the National Directorate of Security (NDS) on 21 November 2019. The two exposed an alleged paedophile syndicate operating in Afghanistan through schools [ Read more ]