Eight non-governmental organisations presented their joint statement in the interactive dialogue with Hina Jilani, the UN Special
Representative of the Secretary-General on the situation of human rights defenders (HRDs), at the 7th session of the UN Human Right Council in Geneva. The organisations expressed their concerns over the risks human rights defenders in Asia face today.

PRESS RELEASE

(Geneva) – Eight non-governmental organisations presented their joint statement in the interactive dialogue with Hina Jilani, the UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General on the situation of human rights defenders (HRDs), at the 7th session of the UN Human Right Council in Geneva. The organisations expressed their concerns over the risks human rights defenders in Asia face today.

They presented cases of “intimidation, physical and psychological assault and retaliation” in Bangladesh, Burma, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, and Thailand. They said that “the police or the military, who are entrusted with the duty to protect, often fail to protect defenders and are instead perpetrating violence against them”.

The joint statement also noted that legislations and policies issued by governments in the context of counter-terrorism and those meant to address nationalism, separatism and national security have been used to restrain human rights defenders from conducting their work in promoting and protecting human rights.

Finally, the organisations also question the role of the governments of Thailand, Indonesia, and Cambodia in the disappearance of lawyer Somchai Neelanpaijit, the murders of activist Munir bin Thalib and union leader Chea Vichea.

The 7th session of the Human Rights Council being hold in Geneva will continue until 28 March 2008.

Download the full statement (.pdf) .

For more information, please contact:
Anselmo Lee, Executive Director, +66 81 868 9178, [email protected]
Emerlynne Gil, Human Rights Defenders Programme Manager, +66 84 092 3675, [email protected]