Administration of justice

On 19th to 24th of April 2015, the Asian-African Conference has been held in the Republic of Indonesia, with representatives of more than a hundred countries participating on the theme of “Strengthening South-South Cooperation to Promote World Peace and Prosperity”. During the event, several bi-national meetings have also been held. The host country President, Joko Widodo, has […]

by Avinash Pandey  Gajendra Singh, a farmer from Rajasthan hung himself from a tree in the middle of a political rally against the Union government’s indifference to the plight of peasants. His suicide, recorded and broadcast live, has brought the horrors that plague the countryside straight into the discomfort of the homes of everyone with […]

In this week’s Roundup, AHRC TV begins in The Philippines, where three rights activists have been killed and two others wounded in separate incidents in the month of March. This is a sign of continuing impunity. Union activist Ronald Ian Evidente shares concerns about the perils faced by rights activists in the country. Next, AHRC TV […]

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that the Chief Incumbent of the Namal Uyana Buddhist Monastery, Venerable Wanawasi Rahula Thero, has escaped an attempt on his life. Constable H.G.M.L. Karunadasa (87198) attached to the Galkiriyagama Police Station, used his official weapon to open fire on the monk on 17 April […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that the administration of the Dehiwala Zoological Gardens, under the newly appointed Director has demolished several access roads built especially for persons with disabilities. They have demolished the main access road for near the main entrance, and access roads to Nos: 1-60 inside the […]

An Open Letter from the Asian Human Rights Commission to the Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi  Shri Narendra Modi Prime Minster Government of India Room No. 148 B, South block,  New Delhi INDIA Fax: + 91 11 230111857 Dear Prime Minister Narendra Modi,  INDIA: Citizens should not be forced to drown themselves for […]

A revolt has been organized by few irresponsible politicians through a campaign to stop investigations into allegations of bribery and corruption. The latest name to be added to the list of those who are being investigated on such allegations is the former president Mahinda Rajapaksa himself. There cannot be a greater attempt to drag a […]

The 2006 amendment to the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971, clearly states that truth is a valid defence against contempt of court proceedings in India. This Act, number 6 of 2006 of the Indian Parliament, amends Section 13 of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971, incorporating Sub-section (b) to Section 13. Sub-section 13 (b) reads: […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information regarding criminal charges brought against Grandma Asyani [63]. She allegedly stole teak wood belonging to the state forestry company, PT. Perhutani. Asyani is being tried in Situbondo District Court, East Java Province, Indonesia, and indicted for violating Law No. 18 of 2013 on Forest […]

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information regarding the enforced disappearance of Mr. Dedek Khairuddin (30), a resident of Pangkalan Brandan Village, North Sumatra Province, Indonesia. Dedek was forcibly abducted from his home by seven soldiers, and has not been seen since. The government has not conducted serious efforts to locate […]

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that S. Premalatha and her husband P.K. Harishchandra are seeking justice in relation to the sudden death of their daughter P.K. Shivanthi Kumari (33) who died on 30 October 2013 at the National Hospital of Colombo (NHSL). They state that their daughter’s husband, a […]

Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar, a social reformer and jurist, is the father of the Indian Constitution. Ambedkar, however, is better known and revered for his lifelong work against caste-based discrimination, which played a central role in bringing to the forefront the plight of untouchables in both pre-independent and post-colonial India. Today, 61 years after Ambedkar’s death, […]

The Asian Human Rights Commission has documented that an increasing number of peaceful protesters are being arrested and jailed under the Peaceful Assembly and Peaceful Procession Act. Citing the maintenance of peace and tranquility in the country, and ensuring the upcoming 2015 election remain peaceful, authorities, especially Administrative Officers, have filed cases against numerous peaceful […]

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan launched its annual report “State of Human Rights in 2014″ Parliament made 10 laws, less than half the previous year’s 22. Nine presidential ordinances were promulgated. Some important laws passed by the parliament were designed to address security concerns, working of the judicial system, and issues related to terrorism, including the controversial […]

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information from the People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) regarding the abduction of a Human Rights Defender, Gambhira Prasad, allegedly by policemen wearing civilian clothes. Mr. Prasad was abducted at 7 p.m. on April 20, 2015, from Baba Chauraha in Allahabad District of Uttar Pradesh immediately after […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information about a child with special needs being unable to attend school as a result of a leading girl’s school in Colombo refusing to provide her with the necessary facilities. The child, since birth, has been unable to walk and needs a wheel chair to […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that surveys conducted by State and UN Agencies have indicated an alarming rate of malnutrition among children, pregnant women and lactating mothers in Sri Lanka. The Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) conducted by the Health Ministry of Sri Lanka in 2010, A Nutrition and […]

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) wishes to forward to you the following open letter from Sri Lankan Alumni and Professionals Association to Sri Lankan Members of Parliament. Sri Lankan Alumni and Professionals Association (SLAPA) represents the scholars and professionals of Sri Lankan origin, who are conscious of their indebtedness to the People of our […]

An article from The Sunday Times written by Kishali Pinto Jayawardene forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission Constitution-making exercises in Sri Lanka are generally a coyly deceptive dance of appearing to give much but actually conceding very little. And for too long, we have suffered from a peculiar obsession with keeping rights away from […]

Dear friends, The Monaragala Wellassa Subagya School, in the Monaragala District is a school providing education to children with special needs in several surrounding districts in the region. The school is administered under the Ministry of Social Services and the Ministry of Education. However, since April 2015, the administration of the school was vested solely […]