Urgent Reforms Are the Real litmus Test of Government’s Commitment to Change

In the lead-up to the by-elections on 1 April, which are already marred by irregularities and censorship [1], rights groups have stressed that key benchmarks have not yet been met. The international community must press for urgent steps to meet these benchmarks […]

Ensure Human Rights, People’s Participation and Economic Justice in Democratization

NGO Press Release in conjunction with the 4th Bali Democracy Forum

Democracy in Asia will remain hollow if human rights, people’s participation and economic justice are not ensured in the process, warned a group of democracy and human rights advocates in the region who gathered in Bali for a civil society conference on democracy prior to the opening of the Bali Democracy Forum (BDF) IV on December 8-9 […]

Final Statement of the Regional Consultation on Democratisation and People’s Participation in Asia

We, the representatives from civil society organisations of 16 Asian countries, gather here on 6 and 7 December 2011 in conjunction with the 4th Bali Democracy Forum to critically assess the situation and highlight challenges to democratization and human rights in Asia […]

Oral Statement by Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development at the 18th Session of the UN Human Rights Council

Item 4: Human Rights Situations that Require the Council’s Attention – General Debate

Thank you, Madam President. FORUM-ASIA wishes to sustain this Council’s attention to the distressing situation along the eastern border of Burma/Myanmar as gross violations of human rights are ongoing […]

18th Regular Session of the UN Human Rights Council: Panel Discussion on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights in the Context of Peaceful Protests: Oral Statement Delivered by Ms. Pooja Patel

Thank you, Madam President. FORUM]ASIA welcomes the holding of this important panel discussion which reaffirms the rights of individuals and peoples to publicly express their grievances and aspirations for change. It is our deep concern […]

Open Letter to ASEAN: Combat impunity and support a Commission of Inquiry into international crimes in Burma

Your Excellencies,

On the eve of the 44th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting (AMM), the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), the Alternative ASEAN Network on Burma (Altsean-Burma) and the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) strongly call on your government to support the creation of a United Nations Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into ongoing international crimes in Burma, as recommended by the UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Burma, Mr Tomás Ojea Quintana […]

Oral Statement Delivered by Mr. Aung Myo Min on Behalf of Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) at UPR Plenary on Burma

Thank you, Mr. President. FORUM-ASIA and its member organization HREIB make this statement on behalf of the Burma Forum on the Universal Periodic Review (BF-UPR).

Mr. President, despite the November 2010 elections’ illusory promise of a democratic transition in the country, “systematic militarization contributes to widespread abuses of human rights which remain essentially unaddressed by the authorities”, as noted by the Special Rapporteur Tomas Ojea Quintana in his recent mission to Thailand […]

Stop Legal Action Against Malaysian Human Rights Defender for Highlighting Rights of Migrant Workers

The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) and Human Rights Now express their great concern regarding the case of Mr. Charles Hector Fernandez, a Malaysian human rights lawyer, activist and blogger. We were informed that Asahi Kosei (M) Sdn. Bhd., subsidiary of Asahi Kosei Japan Co. Ltd., filed a defamation law suit […]

ASEAN Civil Society to Hold First Hearing on CSR

Southeast Asia civil society’s first public hearing on Corporate Social Responsibility and ASEAN will be held in Jakarta on Monday, May 2, from 10am-4pm. The venue is the Yayasan Lembaga Bantuan Hukum Indonesia (YLBHI) office, Jl. Diponegoro No. 74, Jakarta Pusat […]

Hiding Behind Its Limits: A Performance Report on the first year of the AICHR

The establishment of the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) on 23 October 2009, is a milestone in the history of the regional organisation and deserves congratulations. The Solidarity for Asian People’s Advocacy Task Force on ASEAN and Human Rights (SAPA TFAHR) offers this critical performance assessment of first year of AICHR based on its core documents, structure, appointment process, institution building, mandate implementation, handling of cases and external relations. It examines AICHR’s progress, achievements and shortcomings in addressing the human rights situation in Southeast Asia […]