Singapore: Use of Anti-Fake News Law reveals institutional framework that undermines the promotion and protection of human rights (11 February 2020) – Think Centre and the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) are gravely concerned about the recent use of the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA), an anti-fake news law, [ Read more ]

(Bangkok, 10 October 2019) – The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) expresses concern over the disinformation spread about New Naratif founder, Kirsten Han, and other human rights activists in Singapore. This deliberate spread of false information legitimises the acts of harassment faced by these activists, and further stifles the much needed space [ Read more ]

(Bangkok, 27 February 2019) – The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) stands in solidarity with human rights defender Jolovan Wham, as he faces a sentence of sixteen days of imprisonment for violating the Public Order Act. His sentencing highlights Singapore’s tightening grip on civil society and its refusal to heed continuous calls [ Read more ]

(7 January 2019, Bangkok) – The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) condemns the conviction of Singaporean human rights defender Jolovan Wham for violating the 2009 Public Order Act. The case against him highlights the Singaporean Government’s tightening grip on civil society. FORUM-ASIA calls on the Singaporean Government to end the judicial harassment [ Read more ]

(26 July 2018, Bangkok) – The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) and its member from Singapore, Think Centre, express concern over charges ordered by Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC) of Singapore against social worker and human rights activist, Jolovan Wham. FORUM-ASIA and Think Centre call on the Government to drop all charges against [ Read more ]

(Singapore/Bangkok, 19 March 2018) – Think Centre and the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) express great concern over the proposed Bill No. 11/2018 on Public Order and Safety (Special Powers), as it puts restrictions on the people of Singapore to exercise their fundamental freedoms. We particularly condemn the inclusion of peaceful protests [ Read more ]

Civil society groups AWARE, Function 8, HOME, Project X, Think Centre, and TWC2 have serious concerns about the Public Order and Safety (Special Powers) Bill, which introduces wide-reaching police powers, including to potentially deploy lethal force and to stop communications, not just during terrorist attacks, but also during peaceful protests. The Bill goes far beyond [ Read more ]

(Bangkok/Jakarta, 26 January 2018) – The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) welcomes Singapore as the Chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) 2018. During the 26th Meeting of the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) in Singapore on 24-26 January 2018, FORUM-ASIA reiterated its message to the Government of [ Read more ]

(8 December 2017, Bangkok) – The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) strongly condemns the judicial harassment by Singaporean authorities of Jolovan Wham, a pro-democracy civil rights activist. The Attorney-General’s Chambers brought seven charges against Jolovan Wham at the district court level. Among others, he was accused of having violated the Public Order [ Read more ]

35th Regular Session of the UN Human Rights Council Item 8: Follow-up and implementation of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action Oral Statement Delivered by Rosanna Ocampo on behalf of Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) Monday, 19 June 2017 Mr President, FORUM-ASIA calls attention to the significance given to democracy as [ Read more ]