Press Release

A Press Release by the Asian Legal Resource Centre (Hong Kong, September 12, 2014) “People’s rights cannot be conceived without the existence of the rule of law, in any given territory,” says the Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC) in a new edition of its quarterly journal, article2, examining the inexistence of the rule of law in […]

The Story of 30 Years of Commitment is a documentary (now accessible online) produced by Josefina Bergsten, which traces 30 years of work of the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) and its sister organisation the Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC). Both the AHRC and the ALRC are based in Hong Kong, and work in Bangladesh, India, […]

(Hong Kong, July 21, 2014) On June 23, we reported that Fernando Obedencio, a torture victim, was released after the court dismissed the fabricated charges laid on him for possession of illegal drugs. He was detained for nearly nine years. Photo: Fernando Obedencio The Moro Women Centre (MWC), the local group who documented and provided […]

(Hong Kong, July 4, 2014) The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) wishes to share news of Mr. Adilur Rahman Khan having been awarded the 31st Annual Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award. The AHRC congratulates its partner and nominee, Adilur Rahman Khan, for being selected for this prestigious Award. The AHRC trusts this recognition will inspire […]

(Hong Kong, June 26, 2014) To mark the day for victims of torture, a forum and a public gathering with migrant workers will be held simultaneously in Central and in Causeway Bay on Sunday, June 29. For the Filipino community, an indoor forum on “Torture and human rights in the Philippines” will be held in […]

(Hong Kong, June 3, 2014) The Asian Human Rights Commission on Tuesday launched a new webpage in response to the military coup in Thailand of May 22. The webpage contains links to the Hong Kong-based regional human rights organisation’s commentary and appeals concerning the coup, in English and Thai, as well documents related to the […]

(Hong Kong, May 29, 2014) In this extensive interview, Basil Fernando of the Asian Human Rights Commission explains what it means to be a Rule of Law system and why it is important for human rights defenders to understand these concepts. All countries in Asia have laws, but very often the laws are not implemented […]

(Hong Kong, May 16, 2014) The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is deeply concerned, and demands an investigation into the actions of the security guards and their employer landlord for shooting at, and holding at gunpoint, indigenous people who were to occupy their ancestral land in Quezon, Bukidnon. Photo: Manobo-Pulangihons tribes. In their mission report, titled: […]

(Hong Kong, April 28, 2014) The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has corrected and re-issued its 24 April 2014 statement concerning Bangladeshi human rights defender Adilur Rahman Khan. The re-issued statement may be accessed here. In its original statement, AHRC stated that “Adilur has been selected as one of the three recipients, alongside Cao Shunli and […]

(Hong Kong, April29, 2014) Scholars from around the world gathered for a Thai studies conference in Sydney have called for the release of SomyotPrueksakasemsuk and other persons imprisoned under Thailand’s antiquated lese majesty laws. In an open letter issued last Thursday, 35 academics from Thailand, Australia and other countries attending the 14th International Thai Studies […]

(Hong Kong, April 25, 2014) Rights groups in Thailand have informed the U.N. of continuing, routine use of torture in the country, ahead of a review of its compliance with an international law against torture. In reports submitted to the U.N. Committee Against Torture as part of its review of Thailand under the Convention Against […]

(Hong Kong, April 23, 2014) Yesterday, Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada and his delegation arrived in Hong Kong reportedly to offer an apology on behalf of the City of Manila to the victims and families of the 2010 Manila bus hostage incident. In August 2010, the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) had also expressed its concerns and […]

(Hong Kong, April 14, 2014) On April 12, Al Jazeera broadcasted a report, titled: “Philippine farmers fight for land rights” indicating that none of those involved in the massacre of farmers in Hacienda Luisita, owned by the family of current President Benigno Aquino III, have been punished for the massacre ten years on. Below is the transcript of Al […]

(Hong Kong, March 6, 2014) Academics of the Australian National University on Thursday submitted a letter to the diplomatic mission of Thailand in Canberra marking the tenth anniversary of the enforced disappearance of Thai human rights lawyer Somchai Neelaphaijit. File photograph of Thai human rights lawyer Somchai Neelaphaijit The 23 scholars said they lamented that nobody […]

(Hong Kong, February 6, 2014) On January 14, the Court of Appeals (CA), Fifth Division, has concluded that Rolly Panesa, a 48-year-old security guard, could not possibly be Benjamin Mendoza, a leader of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), rejecting the claim of the police and soldiers as justification for his arrest. In its press release, […]

(Hong Kong, January 30, 2014) In a video panel discussion Eran Wickramaratne, a Member of Parliament and Mohon Kikon, a Member of the Legislative Asembly, Nagaland, India and Ernesto Anasarias, a human rights activists from the Philippines on issues relating to the prevention of torture in their countries. The interview is led by Mr. Basil […]

The full report is available for download at: http://www.humanrights.asia/resources/hrreport/2013/AHRC-SPR-001-2013.pdf/view (Hong Kong, December 8, 2013) On the occasion of the Human Rights Day, 2013, the Philippine Desk of the Asian Human Rights Commission has produced a 19 page report detailing the prevailing situation in the country. This year’s report is entitled, ‘License’ to torture, kill and to […]

(Hong Kong, November 23, 2013) Myrna Reblando, widow of journalist Alejandro “Bong” Reblando, one of the journalists killed in Maguindanao massacre, will join the victims’ families and lawyers’ group as they commemorate the 4th year anniversary of the massacre in General Santos City from Hong Kong. Myrna Reblando (right) at the cemetery in General Santos […]

(Hong Kong, November 21, 2013) In her second poem, Myrna Reblando explains what inspires her to continue in her demand for justice on behalf of her husband, Alejandro “Bong” Reblando, and the other victims. Myrna said: “This second poem is all about what we are fighting for. Not only for me, for my husband and […]

(Hong Kong, November 20, 2013) Myrna Reblando, widow of Alejandro “Bong” Reblando, one of the journalists killed in the November 23, 2009 Maguindanao massacre, writes a poem to pay tribute to her husband and other victims. Myrna writes the poem to recall the pain and hurt that the massacre has caused to victims’ families, as […]