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 ]

48th regular session of the UN Human Rights Council Item 10: General Debate on technical assistance and capacity building Delivered by Ahmed Adam On behalf of Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) and World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) 7 October 2021        Madam President, We welcome the High Commissioner’s update [ Read more ]

FORUM-ASIA is proud to present its new publication, “Summary Report: 9th Asian Human Rights Defenders Forum”, an abridgement from an event that facilitates human rights defenders (HRDs) and women human rights defenders (WHRDs) to discuss work and advocacy efforts, and share the experiences and challenges they face. From 2019 to date, the situation of defenders [ Read more ]

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 ]

On the opening of the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) investigation on alleged ‘crimes against humanity’ in the Philippines, FORUM-ASIA Executive Director Shamini Darshni Kaliemuthu said: FORUM-ASIA welcomes the International Criminal Court Pre-Trial Chamber’s decision to open an investigation on the Philippines, and supports its efforts towards accountability for the crimes against humanity in the context [ Read more ]

‘In conjunction with International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples last month, FORUM-ASIA talked with Cheryl P. Polutan (Che), Programme Officer at Purple Action for Indigenous Women’s Rights (LILAK), FORUM-ASIA’s member in the Philippines. In the interview, Che shared with us how she works to empower indigenous women to be recognised for their contributions in [ Read more ]