In July 2018, the Asian NGO Network on National Human Rights Institutions (ANNI), initiated the process for greater engagement on the National Human Rights Commission of India (NHRCI). The independence and effectiveness of the NHRCI is crucial. NHRCI is the national human rights institution (NHRI) to the second most populous country globally. Additionally, as one [ Read more ]

The Environment and Development Division of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), in collaboration with the Center for People and Forests (RECOFTC) published a report titled ‘Environmental Change Through Participation – A closer look at how Inclusive Engagement can achieve Environmental Outcomes’. The publication features an article from [ Read more ]

FORUM-ASIA along with ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR) and Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) Indonesia organised a two-day meeting to discuss the 10 years evolution of the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR), and how the institution needs to fully function for the promotion and protection of human rights in the [ Read more ]

On 29 April – 1 May 2019, the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) organised a regional workshop on monitoring and defending freedom of expression in Bangkok, with the aim to enhance the capacity of FORUM-ASIA members and partners to advocate for the protection of freedom of expression through effective means. About 30 [ Read more ]

The ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) was established in 2009 as an overarching institution mandated to promote and protect human rights in the ASEAN region. During the first decade of its existence, the region has witnessed widespread and systemic human rights violations perpetrated by state authorities, as well as abuses by non-state actors. [ Read more ]

This year marks the 10-year anniversary of the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR); a timely opportunity to assess and review AICHR’s promotion and protection function. The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) and Solidarity for ASEAN People’s Advocacy (SAPA) are proud to publish the first volume of a two part report. [ Read more ]

Defending In Numbers is a biennial report that reviews the situation of human rights defenders (HRD) across Asia as documented by FORUM-ASIA. This particular edition of the report, Resistance in the Face of Repression, highlights key human rights violations against HRDs for the period of 2017-2018. Its central purpose is to identify regional patterns of [ Read more ]

FORUM-ASIA’s new report ‘Instruments of Repression: A Regional Report on the Status of Freedoms of Expressions, Peaceful Assembly, and Association in Asia’, provides information on the repressive laws in the region, documented by our members, covering the period 2016 – May 2018.  The report also makes significant recommendations for the improvement of the existing policies, [ Read more ]

  On 20-22 December 2018, FORUM-ASIA in partnership with Association for Progressive Communications (APC) organised a regional consultation ‘Trends and Trajectory of the Shrinking Civic Space in Asia.’ The consultation aimed to the intersectionalities of freedoms of expression, peaceful assembly and association, and the situation of human rights defenders in the context of shrinking civic [ Read more ]

This report focuses exclusively on the human rights situation in Bangladesh. It is the culmination of years of advocacy on Bangladesh through member organisations, reports and reflections in regional and international platforms, and country visits conducted in the recent past by FORUM-ASIA. The report ‘Shrinking Democratic Space and Freedom of Expression in Bangladesh’ examines: the [ Read more ]