37th Regular Session of the UN Human Rights Council Item 6: Universal Periodic Review of Pakistan Oral Statement Delivered by Rosanna Ocampo on behalf of Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) Monday, 19 March 2018 Mr President, FORUM-ASIA makes this statement in solidarity with Bytes for All Pakistan. We note that Pakistan has [ Read more ]

  Date: Friday, 16 March 2018 Time: 10.00 – 11.00 Venue: Room XXII, Palais des Nations Moderator: Rosanna Ocampo, FORUM-ASIA Discussants: Ghazi Salahuddin, Human Rights Commission of Pakistan Shahzad Ahmed, Bytes for All Pakistan

FORUM-ASIA member from India, Banglar Manabadhikar Surakksha Mancha (MASUM) published its monthly human rights report for February 2018. In February,  MASUM conducted 7 fact finding missions, and filed complaints before the relevant authorities and human rights institutions. Out of 7 fact finding missions and subsequent complaints; four about torture committed by Police, one about torture [ Read more ]

Asma Jahangir with Kirity Roy (Founder Secretary of MASUM) Banglar Manabadhikar Suraksha Mancha (MASUM) is dismayed by the sudden demise of Asma Jahangir in Lahore, after a cardiac arrest on 11 February 2018. Asma Jahangir was known for her commitments and involvement in the field of human rights, democracy, gender equality, peace and justice globally [ Read more ]

On February 11, 2018, a renowned senior lawyer and human rights activist, co-founder of Human Rights Commission of Pakistan and founder of AGHS legal cell Ms. Asma Jahangir passed away in Lahore. During her lifetime Ms. Asma Jahangir received several awards, including a Hilal-i-Imtiaz in 2010 and a Sitara-i-Imtiaz. She was also awarded internationally for advocating [ Read more ]

(Bangkok/Kathmandu, 12 February, 2018) – The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) is deeply saddened by the sudden demise of eminent human rights defender, lawyer and social activist Asma Jahangir in Lahore, after she suffered a cardiac arrest on 11 February 2018. Asma Jahangir was known for her social activities in Pakistan and [ Read more ]

(Bangkok/Kathmandu, 1 February 2018): The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) expresses serious concern over the transferring of the case of Junaid Hafeez to yet another judge. Junaid, a lecturer at Bahauddin Zakariya University in Multan, Pakistan, was arrested in March 2013 and was charged with allegedly committing blasphemy on Facebook, a charge [ Read more ]

12 January 2018 Effective awareness raising and reporting processes way forward in curbing increase in child sexual abuse cases The brutal rape and murder of a seven-year old girl in Kasur, consequent slack in the police’s investigation and ensuing violence against demonstrators seeking justice for the child is a deplorable situation for the state authorities [ Read more ]

11 January 2018 Team PODA worked as election observers on 9 January to watch Election Day voting process in by-election held in Chakwal. Punjab Provincial Assembly seat from constituency PP-20 had fallen vacant due to the death of a member. PODA’s 8-member observer team visited 36 polling stations in 12 Union Councils of the constituency [ Read more ]

FORUM-ASIA member from Bangladesh, Odhikar, published its 2017 annual human rights report. Odhikar was formed in 1994 and it has been diligently working to protect and promote the civil, political, social, economic and cultural rights of the people since its inception. Odhikar, being an organisation of human rights defenders in Bangladesh, has always been consistent [ Read more ]