(Bangkok, 26 May 2022) — The Asian NGOs Network on National Human Rights I­­nstitutions (ANNI) and Civil Society and Human Rights Network (CSHRN) condemn the dissolution of the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC) on 17 May by the De Facto Regime of Taliban. The dissolution demonstrates the Taliban’s continued disregard of the rule of [ Read more ]

For immediate release 27 April 2022, Bangkok Documentation by FORUM-ASIA reveals that women human rights defenders (WHRDs) continued to be the second-most targeted group of defenders between 2019 – 2021, with 460 cases of violations out of 1,899 total cases recorded across 21 Asian countries, or nearly one violation out of every four documented. The [ Read more ]

Bangladesh: The Government must amend the National Human Rights Commission Act 2009, with a view to broadening its mandate to protect and promote human rights (Bangkok/Kathmandu, 25 March 2022) – The Asian NGO Network on National Human Rights Institutions (ANNI) urges the Government of Bangladesh to take immediate measures to amend the National Human Rights [ Read more ]

ANNI Report: Independent and Effective National Human Rights Institutions Could Change Human Rights Landscape in Asia The human rights situation in 11 Asian countries continued to deteriorate in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. Civic spaces continued to shrink, and human rights defenders persisted to work in precarious conditions with minimal protection. Draconian laws and [ Read more ]

25 October 2021 H.E. Mr. Imran Khan Prime Minister of Pakistan Prime Minister’s Office Pakistan Secretariat, Constitution Avenue Islamabad, Pakistan Re: Open Letter to the Honourable Prime Minister regarding the Non-functional National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR) of Pakistan Honourable Prime Minister Mr. Imran Khan, The Asian NGO Network on National Human Rights Institutions (ANNI), [ Read more ]

(15 October 2021) The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) and the Asian NGO Network on National Human Rights Institutions (ANNI) express deep sorrow on the passing of Jose Louis Martin C. Gascon, or ‘Chito’, the Chairperson of the Commission on Human Rights of the Philippines (CHRP) on 9 October 2021.‘ “Chito Gascon [ 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 ]

(March 11, 2021) – On 11 February 2021, the CSO Working Group on MNHRC Reform (Working Group)[1] called on the Myanmar National Human Rights Commission (MNHRC) to denounce the military coup and stand with the people of Myanmar. It has failed to do so. We therefore believe that the MNHRC is an ally of the [ Read more ]

(Bangkok, 16 February 2021) — The Myanmar National Human Rights Commission (MNHRC) must uphold the principles of human rights and ensure the independent, impartial and effective exercise of its powers and functions during the current human rights situation in Myanmar, rights groups said today. The Asian NGO Network on National Human Rights Institutions (ANNI), an [ Read more ]

[Joint Statement] Thailand: Strengthen National Human Right Commission before Accreditation Upgrade (Bangkok/Geneva, 16 December 2020) — The National Human Rights Commission of Thailand (NHRCT) should continue to be accredited as ‘B status’[1] in the re-accreditation exercise by the Sub-Committee on Accreditation of Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI-SCA), said the Asian NGO Network [ Read more ]