Executive Summary On August 9 and 10, the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) conducted the Human Rights in the Time of COVID-19: Addressing the Crisis in Southeast Asia, which was graced by over 75 participants from the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR), ASEAN Commission on the Promotion and Protection of [ Read more ]

COVID-19 continues to wreak havoc throughout Southeast Asia. The health crisis has also catalysed the rise of authoritarianism, the over-securitisation of societies, and systemic efforts to suppress democracy, human rights, and fundamental freedoms in the region. Hence, it is critical to activate, strengthen and protect spaces and mechanisms for civil society to defend human rights [ Read more ]

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 ]

(Bangkok, 23 September 2021) ‒ The Indonesian government should put an end to the judicial harassment against human rights defenders Fatia Maulidiyanti and Haris Azhar, and uphold the right to freedom of expression, a group of human rights organisations said. ‘The Government of Indonesia must uphold its international human rights obligations under the International Covenant [ Read more ]

Date: 9 August 2021 Time: 1 – 4 PM (GMT+7) Platforms: Zoom, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube Registration: bit.ly/FApandemicconference1 The impact of COVID-19 has severely hindered the fulfilment of human rights in the Asian region. Join us in a two-part online event where we discuss the trend of human rights violations and shrinking civic spaces in Asia [ Read more ]

This month in conjunction with the World Press Freedom Day, FORUM-ASIA talked with Sasmito Madrim, Chairperson of the Alliance of Independent Journalists Indonesia (AJI), FORUM-ASIA’s member in Indonesia. In the interview, Sasmito shared with us how he has worked to advance the welfare of media workers and press freedom in Indonesia and the region, and how the access to [ Read more ]

The Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation has launched a report virtually on the criminalization of public defenders including advocates and broadcast live on the YouTube channel of the LBH Indonesia Foundation. Present as speakers were Asfinawati (Chairperson of YLBHI), Arif Maulana (Director of LBH Jakarta), Etik Okta (Director of LBH Semarang), and Frank T. Kahiking (Director [ Read more ]

(Bangkok, 30 April 2021) – ‘ASEAN has failed to recognise the peoples’ desire for a meaningful political solution to the Myanmar crisis during its Leaders’ Meeting,’ said the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA), along with its member organisations from Indonesia and Myanmar in a joint statement today. The rights groups derided the [ Read more ]

46th regular of the UN Human Rights Council Item 4: General Debate on human rights situations that require the Council’s attention NGO Joint Oral Statement Delivered by Sandra Epal-Ratjen Thursday, 11 March 2021      Mr. President, Franciscans International, Geneva for Human Rights, VIVAT International, Commission of the Churches on International Affairs of the World [ Read more ]

Online Public Discussion and Book Launch Repression and Resilience: COVID-19 Response Measures and Migrants Workers in Major East and Southeast Asian Destinations Thursday, December 17 2020, 2-4 PM Western Indonesia Time Online on Zoom Click here to register About the Discussion: The pandemic has emphasised on border controls, as countries use travel bans and restrictions [ Read more ]