Prime Minister Narendra Modi New Delhi 12 August 2019 Dear Prime Minister Modi, We, the undersigned civil society activists and organizations, human rights defenders, lawyers, journalists, and academics from around the globe, write to express our deep concern regarding the recent actions your government has taken over the past week in the State of Jammu [ Read more ]

(Kathmandu/Bangkok, 6 August 2019) – The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) and its members are deeply concerned over the developments in India administered Jammu and Kashmir, where, over the last few days, fundamental human rights have been severely curtailed. We also condemn the outright revocation of Article 370 and its allied Bills, [ Read more ]

FORUM-ASIA member Banglar Manabadhikar Suraksha Mancha (MASUM) published its monthly report of July 2019. The report gave an overview of the complaints sent to various human rights mechanisms, its progress, and responses.  The report also presents case briefs of victims and the human rights violations they face, including extrajudicial killings, tortures, attacks, and detentions. *** The full [ Read more ]

As freedom of expression is being curtailed and civic space is shrinking across Asia, few groups are as much under pressure as the media and human rights defenders. Both are facing harassment, incarceration and even being killed in countries across the region. However, in most instances the two do not manage to overcome their differences [ Read more ]

In July 2018, the Asian NGO Network on National Human Rights Institutions (ANNI), initiated the process for greater engagement on the National Human Rights Commission of India (NHRCI). The independence and effectiveness of the NHRCI is crucial. NHRCI is the national human rights institution (NHRI) to the second most populous country globally. Additionally, as one [ Read more ]

Indian Government should withdraw criminal charges against NGO ‘Lawyers Collective’ and its representatives 26 June 2019, Bangkok/Colombo/Dublin/Geneva/Johannesburg/London/New Delhi/New York/Paris We, the undersigned, strongly condemn the filing of criminal charges against Indian NGO ‘Lawyers Collective’, Senior Advocate Anand Grover, and other representatives of Lawyers Collective. Criminal charges were filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on [ Read more ]

*** For a PDF version of this statement, click here.

(Kathmandu/Bangkok, 12 June 2019) – The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) strongly condemns the arbitrary detention of several media personnel, being: Prashant Kanojia, a freelance journalist; Ishika Singh, head of the private news channel Nation Live; and Anuj Shukla, an editor of Nation Live. FORUM-ASIA calls on the Government to ensure their immediate [ Read more ]

(Kathmandu/Bangkok, 22 May 2019) – The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) condemns the inhumane and degrading use of torture by law enforcement agencies, and urges the Government of India and the Government of Jammu and Kashmir to repeal the laws that fuel the torture and abuse of civilians, political activists, human rights [ Read more ]

(Kathmandu/Bangkok, 15 March 2019) – The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) expresses serious concern over the disappearance of human rights defender Shanmugam Thanasamy, better known as RS Mugilan one month ago.  FORUM-ASIA strongly urges the authorities of both Tamil Nadu and of the central Government to immediately take all measures needed to [ Read more ]