48th regular session of the UN Human Rights Council Item 5: Interactive dialogue on the Secretary General’s report on alleged reprisals against those who seek to cooperate or have cooperated with the United Nations, its representatives and mechanisms  Delivered by Ahmed Adam On behalf of Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) 29 September [ Read more ]

We the undersigned human rights organizations strongly condemn the ongoing persecution and reprisals by Sri Lankan authorities against student leaders, labour union leaders, teachers, academics, and others involved in recent protests against education policies in the country. Sri Lankan authorities have responded to the expression of dissent, protests and the exercise of the rights to [ Read more ]

 48th regular session of the UN Human Rights Council Item 3: Interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the promotion of truth, justice, reparation and guarantees of non-recurrence Delivered by Taisuke Komatsu of IMADR On behalf of Amnesty International, Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA), and the International Movement against All Forms of Discrimination [ Read more ]

 48th regular session of the UN Human Rights Council Item 2: General Debate on the High Commissioner’s oral updates on Sri Lanka and Afghanistan Delivered by Ahmed Adam On behalf of Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) 14 September 2021     Madam President, The situation in Sri Lanka has further deteriorated since [ Read more ]

July 28, 2021 – We, the undersigned human rights organisations express deep concern for the ongoing detention of lawyer and minority and civic rights activist Hejaaz Hizbullah, who has been held under Sri Lanka’s notorious Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) for 15 months. In the absence of any credible evidence presented before a court of [ Read more ]

(Bangkok, 14 June 2021) – The Government of Sri Lanka and factory owners must heed calls from civil society organisations (CSOs) and trade unions urging the protection of Free Trade Zone (FTZ) workers from COVID-19 amid a surge of infections. ‘In line with its obligations under the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights [ Read more ]

(Bangkok/Geneva, 11 May 2021) – A recent amendment to Sri Lanka’s constitution grossly undermines the credibility of the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL), raising questions on the Commission’s compliance to international standards, the Asian NGO Network on National Human Rights Institutions and its member the Law and Society Trust said in a joint [ Read more ]

46th regular of the UN Human Rights Council Item 4: General Debate on human rights situations that require the Council’s attention Oral Statement Delivered by Ahmed Adam On behalf of the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA)  Friday, 12 March 2021      Madam President, We welcome the Secretary-General’s update on the [ Read more ]

46th regular session of the UN Human Rights Council Item 2: Interactive Dialogue on the High Commissioner’s report on the promotion of reconciliation, accountability and human rights in Sri Lanka Oral Statement Delivered by Ahmed Adam On behalf of the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) Wednesday, 24 February 2021     Madam [ Read more ]

February 22, 2021 Re: Coalition of 22 Organizations Calls for New UN Human Rights Council Resolution to Protect Human Rights, Justice, and Accountability in Sri Lanka To the Member States of the Human Rights Council: We, the undersigned organizations, urge the Member States of the Human Rights Council to pass a strong resolution at the [ Read more ]