(Bangkok/Kathmandu, 7 July 2016) – The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) strongly condemns the killing of 21 people at the Holey Artisan Bakery in Gulshan, Dhaka, Bangladesh on 1 July 2016. At around 8:45 P.M., a group of armed assailants entered the bakery, and took the people present hostage, both Bangladeshis and [ Read more ]

32nd Regular Session of the UN Human Rights Council Item 2: Human rights situations that require the Council’s attention – General Debate Oral Statement Delivered by R. Iniyan Ilango On behalf of the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) Thursday, 23 June 2016   Mr. President, we draw the Council’s attention to several [ Read more ]

32nd Regular Session of the UN Human Rights Council Item 2: Thematic reports by the High Commissioner – General Debate Oral Statement Delivered by Rosanna Ocampo On behalf of the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) Tuesday, 21 June 2016 Mr. President, FORUM-ASIA welcomes the High Commissioner’s practical recommendations for the creation and [ Read more ]

(Bangkok/Kathmandu, 25 May 2016) – The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) is deeply concerned about the notice served to Odhikar, a member organisation of FORUM-ASIA in Bangladesh, by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) in a manner aimed to intimidate and humiliate Odhikar. The notice was issued on 18 May 2016 under sections 19 [ Read more ]

(Bangkok, 26 April 2016) – The brutal murder of prominent LGBTI [1] activist, Xulhaz Mannan, and his friend in Dhaka on 25 April is another grim reminder of how unsafe Bangladesh has become for those working to promote basic freedoms, human rights and democracy, the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) said today. [ Read more ]

Bangkok, 7 April 2016: The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) strongly condemns the latest fatal attack on blogger and online activist, Nazimuddin Samad in Dhaka on 6 April 2016. The regional human rights group reiterates its calls to the Government of Bangladesh to protect bloggers and online activists from targeted attacks and [ Read more ]

31st Regular Session of the UN Human Rights Council Item 4: Human rights situations that require the Council’s attention (General Debate) Oral Statement Delivered by Pimsiri Petchnamrob On behalf of the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) Tuesday, 15 March 2016 Mr. President, FORUM-ASIA expresses concern over the deteriorating human rights situation in [ Read more ]

(Bangkok, 19 February, 2016) – Ahead of the next hearing on the remand of journalist Mahmudur Rahman on 22 February 2016, the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) reiterates its call for his immediate release and strongly condemns his continued persecution and unlawful detention despite the Bangladesh’s highest court upholding his bail appeal. [ Read more ]

(Bangkok, 8 February, 2016) – Bangladesh authorities should immediately and unconditionally release journalist Mahmudur Rahman, who has been in arbitrary detention for over 1000 days in complete disregard of all human rights norms, the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) said today. Mahmudur Rahman, acting Editor of a local daily, Amar Desh, has [ Read more ]

30th Regular Session of the UN Human Rights Council Item 4: Human rights situations that require the Council’s attention – General Debate Oral Statement Delivered by R. Iniyan Ilango On behalf of the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) Tuesday, 22 September 2015 Mr. Vice President. FORUM-ASIA draws the Council’s attention to the [ Read more ]