Administration of justice

Pakistan’s transgender community is the most ostracised and beleaguered community in the country. Shunned for being gender less, they are restricted to begging, prostitution and dancing, to earn their livelihood. Reduced to the level of sub-humans, the transgender community are devoid of any rights or even identity. In Pakistani society, the transgender community find it […]

Dear Friends, According to information received by the Asian Human Rights Commission, a woman residing at the Special Residential Safe House of Refuge Seekers situated at Mirihana in Nugegoda Police Division, Colombo District, was raped by Police Constable Vass, security attaché with the Mirihana Headquarters Police Division on 18 June 2017. On the pretense of […]

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information regarding Mr. Kariyawasam Wickramaarachchilage Nimal Wickramasinghe, a permanent resident of Kantale Police Division. Nimal is the father of torture victim, Mr. Milan Saman Wickramasinghe (21). On 13 June 2017, Milan was tortured by Police Officers attached to the Kantale Police Station. After being treated […]

Dear Friends, According to reliable information received by the Asian Human Rights Commission, eighteen young girls in the Dehiwala Orphanage in Colombo District have been sexually abused by a male employee. After receiving the information, the National Child Protection Authority (NCPA) of Sri Lanka had taken steps to force entry into the Orphanage and arrest […]

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information regarding Mrs. Jaysekara Mudiyanselage Ramani Kumari permanent resident of Kantale Police Division. Kumari is a mother of Milan Saman Wickramasinghe (21). On 13 June 2017, Milan was tortured by the police officers attached to the Kantale Police Station. After taking treatment, the victim’s son […]

This week Just Asia begins with two shocking judgments in India, in two different cases of sexual assault. In the first, the Punjab and Haryana High Court suspended the sentences of three law students convicted of raping and blackmailing their female classmate, on the basis of unrelated and irrelevant aspects of the survivor’s lifestyle. In […]

Twenty years ago, when the Asian Human Rights Commission’s (AHRC) Urgent Appeals Programme started, we embarked on a new venture to demonstrate the potential of the Urgent Appeals in creating a culture that respects the sufferings of the victims, and to create a counter culture of concern and protest. It is time now to assess […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information about Mr. Magoda Pathirage Hemavipul (42). He was extra-judicially killed on 19 September 2017, by Officers attached to the Pitigala Police Station. The victim was arrested on 18 September and detained in a cell overnight. He was arrested following a complaint regarding a family […]

Asian Human Rights Commission is proud to announce that it is today celebrating the twentieth anniversary of its Urgent Appeals Programme. The first urgent appeal was issued on 17 September 1997. Ever since Asian Human Rights Commission’s Urgent Appeal Programme has continuously issued urgent appeals relating to human rights violations, reported from many countries of […]

Dear Friends, Gorakaduwa Gamage Maleesha Nalinpriya (10) of Mahagedara Watte, Bataduwa, Galle, was a resident of Galle District. Maleesha went missing on 10 August 2017. He was residing and training to be ordained at Yatagala Raja Maha Viharaya Buddhist Temple at Unawatuna Galle. On 10 August, Maleesha with four other monks and a young boy […]

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information regarding Mr. Morawatthegedara Nuwan Vijitha (26) of Kantale Police Division. On 15 June 2017, 3 Police Officers of the Kantale Police Station illegally arrested Nuwan and detained him at the station. The next day he was produced before the Kantale Magistrate charged with participating […]

An article from Daily Times forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission Salman Ali One sided history, false references, half-truths and a biased approach — this is what you will find in Pakistani textbooks. The curriculum that we are currently using in schools and colleges is simply outdated, and does not meet the local needs […]

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information regarding Kodithuwakku Kankanamage Chaminda Kumara (24) resident of Kantale Police Division. On 19 June 2017, five Kantale Police Station Officers illegally arrested Kumara and detained him at the station. The next day he was produced before the Kantale Magistrate charged with participating in a […]

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission has received information regarding Mr. Gregory Benedict Selvaraj in the Kandy Headquarters Police Division. On 26 July 2017, he was illegally arrested, detained, tortured and produced before the Courts by Police attached to the Kandy Police Station. There was nothing to show his involvement in any crime. He […]

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission has received information regarding the case of Sanath Kumara Wijethilaka (34) of Dambulla Headquarters Police Division, who was killed in the early hours of 5 September 2017. Sanath was a transgender man. His dead body was lying on the ground of a private van park in front of the Dambulla […]

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information regarding Mr. Warnasooriya Patabandige Lakshan (21), permanent resident of the Trincomalee District. On 15 June 2017, Lakshan was illegally arrested by Police of the Kantale Police Division. He was not given any reason for his arrest. After detaining him at the Police Station, he […]

A new United Nations report (A/HRC/36/31) warns that a growing number of human rights defenders around the world are facing reprisals for cooperating with the UN on human rights. The report, ‘Cooperation with the United Nations, its mechanisms and representatives in the field of human rights’, mentions Pakistan among the 29 countries that have retaliated […]

This week Just Asia begins with Pakistan, where a teenage student, Tania Khaskheli, was murdered for turning down a marriage proposal from an influential feudal lord in Sindh province’s Sehwan city. The Sehwan police only filed murder charges after strong civil society protest. While two persons have since been arrested, the feudal lord is still […]

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) condemns the attacks against the right to freedom of expression, opinion and peaceful assembly that have occurred frequently over the past year in Indonesia. These have occurred despite constitutional and legal guarantees to protect such rights: Article 28 of the Indonesian Constitution states, “Every person shall have the right […]

By Basil Fernando The following is a presentation made at a workshop organized by the Asian Human Rights Commission and the May 18th Foundation (14-16th September 2017) on the preparations for the 20th Anniversary of the Asian Human Rights Charter 1998. This paper addresses the direction the Asian human rights movement should take in order […]