Open Letter

INDONESIA: Government should enforce the law regarding student disappearances of 1997/98

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 2, 2009 AHRC-OLT-026-2009 An Open Letter to the President of Indonesia by the Asian Human Right Commission (AHRC) Mr. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono President of the Republic of Indonesia Presidential Palace, Jl. Medan Merdeka Utara Jakarta Pusat 10010 INDONESIA Tel: +62 21 384 5627, ext. 1003 Fax: +62 21 231 4138, 345 […]

THAILAND: Mistreatment of woman detainee convicted of lese majesty — Asian Human Rights Commission

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) listened with close attention to your speech on 14 September 2009 to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, and is aware of your work for the rights of women prisoners in Thailand through the Kamlangjai Project, as well as with the UN Office on Drugs and Crime and […]

HONG KONG: Minimum food allowance for foreign domestic workers

Open Letter | | 16-09-2009

16 September, 2009 We, the undersigned civil groups, are writing to express our serious concern at the lack of a transparent and reasonable mechanism for the minimum food in Hong Kong. As we are all aware, on 2nd September 2009, the Hong Kong SAR government announced that the food allowance, in lieu of free food […]

PHILIPPINES: The Commission on Human Rights is urged to initiate a dialogue with President Arroyo asking her to sign the Anti-Torture law promptly

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) writes to express its appreciation of the recent developments that the bill, which seeks to criminalize torture, has been ratified by the Philippine Senate and the House of Representatives on August 17, 2009. Though the bill has already been ratified, it has yet to be signed by the President […]

THAILAND: Case of Darunee Chanchoengsilapakul, denied freedom of expression & politicization of the judiciary

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 4, 2009 AHRC-OLT-022-2009 An Open Letter to the UN Special Rapporteurs on Freedom of Expression and Independence of Judges and Lawyers by the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) Frank La Rue Special Rapporteur on the right to freedom of opinion and expression Palais des Nations CH-1211 Geneva 10 SWITZERLAND Gabriela Carina […]

SRI LANKA: An Open Letter to all Parliamentarians on the need to urgently deal with Lawlessness in the Police

I am writing this on behalf of the Asian Human Rights Commission on a matter that is, I am sure that of great importance and urgency to all the members of parliament, whatever political party they might belong to. This is the issue of extreme lawlessness within the policing system which is causing shock, scandal […]

ASIA: Open letter to the UN General Assembly regarding the 12th session of the Human Rights Council

To: The Member States of the UN General Assembly Your Excellency, As the Human Rights Council prepares for its 12th regular session, the first session with the new members elected in May 2009, we write to ask your government to commit itself publicly as a matter of national policy to support a competitive, genuinely-contested and […]

SOUTH KOREA: NHRC no longer complies with Paris Principles, its status must be downgraded

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is writing to you to request an immediate review of the status of the National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK). We request this on the basis that the NHRCK no longer complies with the Principles Relating to the Status of National Institutions on Human Rights (The Paris Principles) […]

THAILAND: Prosecution of Tak Bai killers must now begin

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is writing to you following the inquest findings of a court in Thailand issued on 29 May 2009 that the deaths of 78 men in Narathiwat in October 2004 was a result of suffocation while being carried in vehicles. The findings clear the way for prosecutions of the persons […]

SRI LANKA: I also mourn for Prabakaran

Following the killings of the entire LTTE leadership there is a strongly expressed feeling among Sri Lankans, within the country or outside, that their deaths particularly that of the leader, Prabakaran, should not be a matter for mourning. I beg to differ! That there were the most extreme forms of violence practiced by both the […]

THAILAND: NHRC no longer complies with Paris Principles, must lose status in United Nations forums

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  May 8, 2009 AHRC-OLT-017-2009 An Open Letter to the International Coordinating Committee of National Institutions for Human Rights by the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) Jennifer Lynch Chairperson International Coordinating Committee of National Institutions for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights c/o Canadian Human Rights Commission 344 Slater Street, 8th Floor […]

AZERBAIJAN: UN member States urged not to elect Azerbaijan to the Human Rights Council

Open Letter | | 05-05-2009

To:  The Member States of the General Assembly Your Excellency, On the occasion of the Human Rights Council elections on May 12, 2009, we, the undersigned international human rights organizations, wish to draw your attention to the deteriorating human rights situation in Azerbaijan and encourage your government not to vote for Azerbaijan. During its 2006 […]

THAILAND: Strongly oppose nomination of Parinya Sirisaragarn to the NHRC and again call for delay in process

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  April 30, 2009 AHRC-OLT-015-2009 A Third Open Letter to the Senate of Thailand by the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) Prasobsuk Boondech President Senate of Thailand Office of the Senate Secretariat 499 Sukpraprueit Building Prachachuein Road Bangsue, Bangkok 10800 THAILAND Fax: +662 831 9211 EXTREMELY URGENT Dear Mr. Prasobsuk THAILAND: Strongly oppose […]

SAUDI ARABIA: UN member States urged not to vote for Saudi Arabia in upcoming Human Rights Council Elections

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 28, 2009 AHRC-OLT-014-2009 A Joint Open Letter from Civil Society Organisations to the Foreign Ministers of all UN member States Your Excellency: SAUDI ARABIA: UN member States urged not to vote for Saudi Arabia in upcoming Human Rights Council Elections On May 12, 2009, your government will vote for new members to the […]

THAILAND: Senate must delay vote on NHRC

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is writing to you out of grave concern that if the Senate proceeds with a vote on the seven persons nominated as commissioners of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) of Thailand at the sitting on this Friday, May 1 as the Senate Secretariat announced today, April 29, the […]

THAILAND: Senate must give more time for debate on new NHRC

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is writing to you out of concern that the selection process for a new National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) of Thailand is being rushed through in a highly undemocratic manner, without any public consultation or accountability and contrary to the basic principles that the NHRC is supposed to represent. […]

PAKISTAN: Suo Moto action is sought on behalf of a seventy-five-year-old man imprisoned by civilians for 34 years

The Asian Human Rights Commission wishes to draw your attention to the case of a Pakistani citizen who has been held in inhuman conditions inside a private cell for 34 years. Although the case is known to authorities in the area and a video documentary has been released about the man, no action has been […]

Human Rights Council Elections — A letter to the Eastern European delegations to the United Nations — Asian Human Rights Commission

To: Eastern European Your Excellency, As a diverse coalition of human rights organizations, we write in advance of the 2009 Human Rights Council elections to welcome reports that Eastern European states plan to present a competitive slate for election to the Council. General Assembly resolution 60/251, which established the Council, specifies that Council members shall […]

Human Rights Council Elections — A letter to the Western European and other delegations to the United Nations

To: Western European and Others Your Excellency, As a diverse coalition of human rights organizations, we write in advance of the 2009 Human Rights Council elections to urge the states in the Western European and Others Group (WEOG) to present a competitive slate for election to the Council. General Assembly resolution 60/251, which established the […]

Human Rights Council Elections — A letter to the Asian delegations to the United Nations — Asian Human Rights Commission

To: Asian Your Excellency, As a diverse coalition of human rights organizations, we write in advance of the 2009 Human Rights Council elections to urge Asian states to present a competitive slate for election to the Council. General Assembly resolution 60/251, which established the Council, specifies that Council members shall be elected directly and individually, […]