(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 ]

‘Have They Passed the Litmus Test? – A Report on the Performance of the ASEAN Human Rights Mechanisms in 2016’ is the seventh annual review by FORUM-ASIA together with the Solidarity for Asian People’s Advocacy (SAPA) Task Force on ASEAN and Human Rights and Working Group on ASEAN (SAPA TFAHR & WGA). The report presents [ Read more ]

We[1], civil society organizations (CSOs) with consultative relationship with the AICHR gathered in Bohol, Philippines, on 28 November 2017 to join the first interface meeting between AICHR and CSOs as part of the ASEAN Round Table Dialogue (RTD) on the ASEAN Human Rights Declaration (AHRD). We would like to convey our appreciation toward AICHR and [ Read more ]

 ASEAN: Be For the People, Work With the People We are people’s organizations, social movements and NGOs of youth, children, women, workers, older people, indigenous groups, persons with disabilities, LGBTIQ and other sectors, including academics from the ten (10) ASEAN countries plus East Timor. We have been engaging the ASEAN and its member states for twelve (12) years now. In conjunction [ Read more ]

From 10-14 November 2017 the ASEAN Civil Society Conference/ASEAN Peoples’ Forum (ACSC/APF) 2017 will take place at the University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City, the Philippines. As in previous years, FORUM-ASIA will both participate and be involved with various events and activities during the gathering. ACSC/APF addresses issues around peace, justice and human rights, [ Read more ]

  Jointly submitted by Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) Asia Pacific Refugee Rights Network (APRRN)   Statement of Purpose              FORUM-ASIA welcomes the opportunity to present this joint briefing paper, in partnership with the Asia Pacific Refugee Rights Network (APRRN), to the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR). The purpose of this [ Read more ]

(Bangkok, 8 August 2017) – On its 50th anniversary, the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) calls on the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to address the deteriorating human rights situation in the region. It should honour five decades of regionalisation by promoting human rights as an integral part of its efforts [ Read more ]

(Bangkok, 2 June 2017) – The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) calls on the Government of Malaysia to cease the persecution of the newly established Citizen Action Group on Enforced Disappearances (CAGED), which FORUM-ASIA member Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM) holds the Secretariat for, and instead focus on recent cases of enforced disappearances [ Read more ]

(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 ]

To Excellency: Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III (Senate President) Senator Ralph G. Recto (Senate President Pro-Tempore) Senator Vicente C. Sotto III (Majority Leader) Senator Franklin M. Drilon (Minority Leader) Senator Sonny M. Angara Senator Paolo Benigno Aquino IV (Assistant Minority Leader) Senator Maria Lourdes “Nancy” S. Binay Senator Alan Peter “Companero” S. Cayetano Senator Leila [ Read more ]