We, the undersigned organisations, express our utmost concern over the ongoing criminalization of ten human rights defenders and members of Karapatan, GABRIELA and the Rural Missionaries of the Philippines (RMP) in retaliation for their legitimate human rights work. Elisa Tita Lubi, Karapatan Chairperson; Cristina Palabay, Karapatan Secretary General; Roneo Clamor, Karapatan Deputy Secretary General; Gabriela [ Read more ]

(Bangkok, 19 October 2022) — Former senator and chairperson of the Commission on Human Rights of the Philippines, Leila de Lima, should be released immediately and unconditionally, said the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) following a recent hostage-taking incident. On 9 October, three convicts allegedly linked to local terrorist groups stabbed a [ Read more ]

(Bangkok/Jakarta, 29 June 2022) – ‘We urge the new Philippine government to repeal the repressive laws imposed by its predecessors and set a worthy example towards the protection and promotion of human rights,’ said the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) ahead of Philippines presidential inauguration. ‘The incoming administration of President Ferdinand Marcos [ Read more ]

(Bangkok/Jakarta, 20 June 2022) FORUM-ASIA is deeply concerned by the ongoing court trial on perjury charges filed by Hermogenes Esperon Jr., the former National Security Adviser in the Cabinet of Rodrigo Duterte, against civil societies, Karapatan the Rural Missionaries of the Philippines (RMP) and GABRIELA as well as the systematic vilification and smear campaigns against [ Read more ]

As the Philippines prepare to vote in the presidential elections on 9 May 2022, the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) and the Philippine Alliance for Human Rights Advocates (PAHRA), urge all presidential candidates to publicly commit to protection and promotion of fundamental freedoms and human rights, create a safe and enabling environment [ Read more ]

49th regular session of the UN Human Rights Council Item 10: General debate on technical assistance and capacity-building – General Debate    Delivered by Ahmed Adam On behalf of Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) and CIVICUS World Alliance for Citizen Participation  March 2022    Mr. President, The Joint Programme on human [ Read more ]

We are concerned about the grave risks that the SIM Card Registration Act poses to the rights to privacy, free expression and information, association and non-discrimination in the Philippines. We are further concerned about the discriminatory impact of the law on transgender and gender diverse individuals, in the absence of legal gender recognition in the [ Read more ]

Honourable Karim A. A. Khan QC Prosecutor The Office of the Prosecutor International Criminal Court Oude Waalsdorperweg 10, 2597 AK Den Haag, Netherlands 24 November 2021   ICC urged to resume its investigation into alleged crimes against humanity in the Philippines   To ICC Prosecutor Karim A. A. Khan We, human rights organisations working on [ 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 ]

Date: Friday, 15 October 2021 Time: 1.00 – 2.15 PM (GMT+7) Register here: l.forum-asia.org/ACSCAPF21 Live via: Zoom   This year’s ASEAN Civil Society Conference / ASEAN Peoples’ Forum eclipses a challenging era for the Association of Southeast Nations (ASEAN) as it deals with the spillover effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the worsening crisis in Myanmar. Eight [ Read more ]