Open Letter

SUDAN: NGOs call for renewal of the mandate of UN Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in Sudan

Re: Renewal of the Mandate for the Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in Sudan  Your Excellency,  The undersigned human rights organizations, are writing to urge your government to duly address the situation of serious and widespread human rights abuses which continue to occur in Sudan. We also urge your government to support […]

PHILIPPINES: Sulu’s emergency declaration is legally flawed

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 15, 2010 AHRC-OLT-010-2010 An Open Letter to Faith Suzzette delos Reyes-Kong, senior legal officer of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR 9) by the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) Ms. Faith Suzzette delos Reyes-Kong Senior Legal Officer Commission on Human Rights of the Philippines (CHR 9) 2nd Floor, Philippine Veterans Bank […]

UN: Letter to UNESCO – Cancel UNESCO-Obiang Prize

Open Letter | | 25-08-2010

A Joint Open Letter to the Executive Board of the UNESCO from a group of 96 organisations world-wide UNESCO  Executive Board  7, place de Fontenoy  75732 Paris 07 SP  France  Tel: +33 (0) 145681000 Dear Members of the Executive Board: UN: Letter to UNESCO – Cancel UNESCO-Obiang Prize We understand that, as a result of […]

BURMA/MYANMAR: Request to intervene on complaint of severe torture by police

An Open Letter to the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture by the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) Professor Manfred Nowak Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment OHCHR, UNOG CH-1211 Geneva 10 SWITZERLAND Dear Prof. Nowak BURMA/MYANMAR: Request to intervene on complaint of severe torture by police The Asian […]

THAILAND: UN must demand lifting of Emergency Decree

Sihasak Phuangketkeow President, UN Human Rights Council c/o Permanent Mission of Thailand 5 Rue Gustave-Moynier 1202 Geneva SWITZERLAND Fax: +41 22 715-1000, 715-1002 Tel: +41 22 715-1010 E-mail: mission.thailand@ties.itu.int Dear Mr. Sihasak THAILAND: UN must demand lifting of Emergency Decree The Asian Human Rights Commission is writing to you in your capacity as the newly-chosen President […]

SOUTH KOREA: NGOs facing reprisals for submitting information to UN Security Council

Mr. Ban Ki-Moon Secretary General Office of the Spokesman for the Secretary General United Nations S-378 New York NY 10017 USA Fax: +1 212 963 7055 or 2155 SOUTH KOREA: NGOs facing reprisals for submitting information to UN Security Council  Your Excellency, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is writing this special appeal to you […]

THAILAND: Chaining of wounded detainees under Emergency Decree

Abhisit Vejjajiva Prime Minister c/o Government House Pitsanulok Road, Dusit District Bangkok 10300 THAILAND Fax: +66 2 288 4000 ext. 4025 Tel: +66 2 288 4000 E-mail: spokesman@thaigov.go.th or abhisit@abhisit.org Dear Mr. Abhisit THAILAND: Chaining of wounded detainees under Emergency Decree The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is writing to you regarding the treatment of detainees under the […]

INDONESIA: Police act disproportionately in war on terror — unarmed suspects shot dead

According to your statement and reports, three alleged terrorists were shot to death on May 12, 2010 in Cawang, Jakarta by police officers from the special detachment for anti-terrorism (Densus 88). Two others were killed in a raid in the Cikampek sub-district, East Jakarta by the same unit on the same day. According to eyewitness […]

BURMA: A human rights defender targeted by medical doctors

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received a copy of a letter from a human rights defender in Myanmar (Burma), a copy of which has also been addressed to you. As the letter may not have been received or its contents not communicated to you, we are taking this opportunity to raise the matter […]

SOUTH KOREA: Order of facilities for execution draws international concerns: Death penalty must be abolished

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) would like to first of all express our deep condolence to the family members whose children have been abused recently in South Korea. The AHRC has no doubt that such cases would be thoroughly investigated by law enforcement agencies and the criminals be punished in accordance with law. According […]

BURMA: Extensive use of torture by police in recent cases

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has followed with concern reports of the most recent criminal cases targeting persons deemed threats to the state in Myanmar, and in particular the alleged use of grave forms of torture to extract confessions from them. Among these is the case of Dr. Wint Thu and eight others accused […]

INDONESIA: The Attorney General should conduct investigations in the cases of Trisakti, Semanggi student killings — Asian Human Rights Commission

Dear Mr. Supandji, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is writing to urge you to conduct an investigation to follow up the recommendation of the National Commission for Human Rights (Komnas HAM). With regard to the commemoration of the Semanggi I case on November 13, we also wish to remind the national and international community […]

IRAN: 109 NGOs denounce abuses in Iran and call for UN General Assembly resolution

Open Letter | | 12-11-2009

Your Excellency, We, the undersigned independent human rights and civil society organizations from diverse regions and societies around the world, respectfully urge your support for a United Nations General Assembly Resolution condemning the serious human rights violations in the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) and advising the IRI of steps it should take to respect […]

ZIMBABWE: NGOs condemn abuses and obstruction of UN Special Rapporteur on Torture’s visit

A Joint Open Letter to the Government of Zimbabwe by human rights organizations from 14 countries November 7th, 2009  Government of Zimbabwe  Your Excellencies  President Robert Mugabe  Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai Copy to:  Southern African Development Community  African Union  UN Human Rights Council ZIMBABWE: NGOs condemn abuses and obstruction of UN Special Rapporteur on Torture’s […]

WORLD: NGOs urge UN General Assembly to adopt strong resolution on Goldstone Report concerning Gaza

We, the undersigned civil society organizations, are writing to urge your government to support recommendations in the Report of the United Nations Fact Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict (Goldstone Report) and work with others in the General Assembly to secure adoption of a resolution calling on the Israeli Government and relevant Palestinian authorities in […]

INDONESIA: UN Working Group urged to intervene into disappearances from 1997-98, as impunity continues

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is seeking the intervention of the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances concerning the many disappearances committed by the State in Indonesia’s past, concerning which impunity prevails to date. One of the key events that led to the reformation of the Indonesian state were protests against Suharto’s New […]

BURMA: Key problems for the Special Rapporteur on independence of judges and lawyers to consider ahead of visit — Asian Human Rights Commission

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) welcomes the news of the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Myanmar, Tomás Ojea Quintana, in his press conference of 22 October 2009 that the Chief Justice of Myanmar, U Aung Toe, has accepted a visit by the Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers. As […]

WORLD: NGOs denounce international efforts to undermine the protection of the freedoms of expression and equality

Open Letter | | 22-10-2009

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 23, 2009 ALRC-OLT-002-2009 A Joint Open Letter to the UN Ad Hoc Committee for the Elaboration of Complementary Standards from a coalition of international human rights organisations To: Ambassador Idriss Jazairy Chair of the Ad Hoc Committee on the Elaboration of Complementary Standards Madame Navenethem Pillay United Nations High Commissioner for […]

SOUTH KOREA: What can be done when National Institution itself tries to subordinate to administration? — Asian Human Rights Commission

In addition to our previous communication requesting an immediate review of the status of the National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK) based on its non-compliance with the Paris Principles, the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) would now like to draw your attention to the NHRCK’s subordination to the ruling administration under the chair of […]

PHILIPPINES: Treatment for tuberculosis must also be afforded to prisoners — Asian Human Rights Commission

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) writes with deep concern that two detainees, Leo Paro and Melvic Lupe, have died, reportedly due to tuberculosis while being held at the Karangalan Police Station in Cainta, Rizal. Paro and Lupe succumbed in October 2009 and December 2008 respectively. Neither of them received treatment. I am aware that […]