India: Stop the  false accusations and arrests of human rights defenders in the Delhi riots case (Bangkok/Kathmandu, 24 , September 2020) ‒ The Indian government must stop the arrests and drop all charges against nine academics, student leaders, human rights defenders  and activists in the Delhi riots case and the targeted use of draconian provisions [ 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 ]

India: End the incarceration and harassment of human rights defenders in the Bhima Koregaon case (Bangkok/Kathmandu, 17 September 2020) ‒ The recent arrests of cultural activists Sagar Gorkhe, Ramesh Gaichor and Jyoti Jagtap this month in relation to the Bhima Koregaon case is a vicious targeting of human rights defenders aimed at instilling fear and [ Read more ]

Human Rights Council Forty-fifth session 14 September–2 October 2020 Agenda items 2 and 3 Annual report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and Reports of the Office of the High Commissioner and the Secretary-General Promotion and protection of all human rights, civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, including the right to [ Read more ]

July Report 2020 Published on the 3rd August 2020 Banglar Manabadhikar Surakksha Mancha (MASUM) made 11 complaints of gross human rights violation before the relevant state authorities and different human rights institutions; especially the National Human Rights Commission during the month of July 2020. During this period we made updated complaints regarding 7 cases formerly [ Read more ]

(Bangkok/Kathmandu, 6 July 2020) – The arrest of six police officers after a father-and-son duo died in police custody is just the first step towards addressing impunity in India, said rights groups. In a joint statement, the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) and eight of its member organisations in India urged the [ Read more ]

For this month’s e-newsletter, FORUM-ASIA talked with Pradip G. More, Deputy Director of Dalit Foundation, one of FORUM-ASIA members in India. In this interview, Pradip shared with us his human rights journey with the Dalit community and how he works to inspire and nurture the new generation of changemakers. How did you become involved with [ Read more ]

(Bangkok, 15 May 2020) – The recent gas leak at a South Korea-owned factory in Visakhapatnam, India, last week starkly showcases how private companies and the Indian authorities have not learnt from the 1984 Bhopal disaster,[1] said the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA). Together with FORUM-ASIA’s Indian and South Korean members, the [ Read more ]

India: End judicial harassment and intimidation of journalists and human rights defenders in Jammu and Kashmir (Bangkok/Kathmandu, 28 April 2020) – The intimidation and criminalisation of journalists and human rights defenders in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir constitute a serious violation of their fundamental rights and freedoms, and it must end, the Asian Forum for Human Rights [ Read more ]

JOINT STATEMENT INDIA: Arbitrarily detained Kashmiri prisoners must be freed Geneva – Paris – New Delhi, 6 April 2020 – While recent steps taken by Indian authorities to decongest prisons in an effort to contain the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak are welcome, the Government should release all unjustly detained prisoners as a matter of priority. [ Read more ]