Human rights defenders continue fighting for rights amid mounting challenges (Bangkok, 9 December 2020) — The COVID-19 pandemic has put human rights defenders further at risks, especially in countries where they are vilified for carrying out their legitimate work, the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) said in conjunction with the International Human [ Read more ]

In response to Hong Kong’s sentencing of pro-democracy activists Joshua Wong, Agnes Chow and Ivan Lam yesterday, Shamini Darshni Kaliemuthu, FORUM-ASIA Executive Director said: Hong Kong should immediately and unconditionally release pro-democracy activists Joshua Wong, Agnes Chow and Ivan Lam. The continuing judicial harassment  against them constitutes an immense violation of their fundamental rights to [ Read more ]

(Bangkok, 5 November 2020) ‒ Myanmar’s election process perpetuates existing systematic and structural inequalities and discrimination, said the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) ahead of the country’s general elections scheduled on 8 November. ‘Myanmar’s elections have been characterised by the continued disenfranchisement of its ethnic minority groups, particularly the Rohingya, and the use of [ Read more ]

(Bangkok, 8 October 2020) ‒ The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) and the Solidarity for Asian Peoples Advocacy (SAPA) launched a report on the ASEAN Commission on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Women and Children (ACWC) marking the tenth anniversary of the ACWC’s establishment with an online public lecture [ Read more ]

Myanmar: Three years on, still no justice for the Rohingya On the third anniversary of the Rohingya genocide, FORUM-ASIA’s East Asia and ASEAN Manager Rachel Arinii-Judhistari said: Three years after the Myanmar military drove out close to a million Rohingya in its genocidal ‘clearance operation’, the genocide against them continues. The Myanmar government has failed [ Read more ]

https://www.inclusivedevelopment.net/court-decision-p…an-rights-abuses/ For Immediate Release Thai Appeal Court decision paves the way for Asia’s first transboundary class action on human rights abuses (July 31, 2020) – Today, Cambodian plaintiffs representing more than 700 farming families won a landmark appeal allowing them to move forward with their class action against Asia’s largest sugar producer, Mitr Phol. The [ Read more ]

The State of the Nation under Duterte:  Four years of deteriorating human rights and democracy (Bangkok, 27 July 2020) ‒ Duterte’s four years in power have been characterised by the systematic erosion of human rights, and the failure of governance and democracy, said the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) and six of [ Read more ]

Afghanistan: ANNI condemns the killing of two human rights defenders (Bangkok, 1 July 2020) ‒ The heightened violence and attacks against human rights defenders must be brought to an end if there is any hope for peace talks to be held in Afghanistan, a rights group said. In a statement, the Asian NGO Network on National [ Read more ]

(Bangkok, 23 June 2020) ‒ The recent red-tagging of Balaod Mindanaw Executive Director Ritz Lee Santos III and other human rights defenders demonstrates the significant threats they continue to face under Duterte’s administration, the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) said today. A Facebook post circulated over the weekend claimed that Santos, along [ Read more ]

(Bangkok, 15 June 2020) – The conviction of Rappler CEO Maria Ressa and former Rappler writer-researcher Reynaldo Santos Jr. over cyber libel charges today sends a chilling message that the Philippine people are now a target, the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) said. Today, the Manila Regional Trial Court convicted Maria Ressa [ Read more ]