(Bangkok, 9 May 2017) – The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) is deeply concerned over the sentencing today of Jakarta’s Governor, Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, also known as Ahok, to two years in jail on charges of blasphemy. His jailing is an attack on fundamental freedoms, particularly the rights to freedom of expression [ Read more ]

Geneva, 3 May 2017: Indonesian civil society expresses its greatest appreciation to the Government of Indonesia which has exhibited its commitment to cooperate openly and dialogically with the international human rights mechanism by attending the Universal Periodic Review Session (UPR) at the UN Human Rights Council on May 3, 2017. The UPR meeting was attended [ Read more ]

Jakarta, 3 May 2017: The Commission for the Disappeared and Victims of Violence (KontraS) has been monitoring the third round of the Universal Periodic Review for Indonesia on Wednesday, May 3, 2017. The process that we follow from Jakarta, Indonesia does not seem to indicate the spirit of human rights diplomacy. The UPR led by three [ Read more ]

(Bangkok, 7 September 2016) – Twelve years since the killing of prominent human rights defender, Munir Said Thalib, the Indonesian Government still has failed to take any concrete action to solve his assassination. The person who put the poison into Munir’s cup has served his time in prison, but it remains unknown who the mastermind [ Read more ]

The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) along with The Commission for the Disappeared and Victims of Violence (KontraS) – Indonesia, Hak Association – Timor-Leste, Asia Justice and Rights (AJAR) – Timor-Leste, Asosiasaun Chega ba Ita (ACbIT) – Timor-Leste, Burma Partnership, Task Force Detainees of Philippines (TFDP) – Philippines and Solidarity for ASEAN [ Read more ]

  São Paulo, July 27th 2016  To:   His Excellency President Joko Widodo Istana Merdeka Jakarta 10110 Republic of Indonesia   Cc:  Ambassador Toto Riyanto, Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia in Brasilia, Brazil Ambassador Yusra Khan, Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia in Mexico City, Mexico Ambassador Rizali Wilmar Indrakesuma, Ambassador of the Republic [ 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 ]

Today marks the 50th anniversary of the failed coup in Indonesia that sparked the mass-killings of 1965-1966. Over the course of a few months an estimated 500,000 to 1 million people lost their lives. In the following years millions more disappeared, were killed, arrested and imprisoned, while gross violations of human rights were rampant. The [ Read more ]

The Jakarta Recommendations are the outcome of discussions at a regional consultation on “Expression, Opinion and Religious Freedoms in Asia”, held in Jakarta, Indonesia on 3-5 June 2015. Over 140 people, comprised of experts, including the UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, David Kaye, [ Read more ]

29th Regular Session of the UN Human Rights Council Item 8: Follow up and Implementation of the VDPA Oral Statement Delivered by R. Iniyan Ilango On behalf of the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) Monday, 29 June 2015 Mr. President, the Vienna Declaration and Program of Action (VDPA) makes several references to [ Read more ]