Human rights defenders

Asia’s Unknown Uprisings by George Katsiaficas ISBN: 978-1-60486-488-5 (Published by PM Press 2013) (Hong Kong, March 19, 2013) The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) wishes to announce the release of the book: Asia’s Unknown Uprisings People power in the Philippines, Burma, Tibet, China, Taiwan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Thailand and Indonesia, 1947-2009 Asia’s Unknown Uprisings by George […]

On March 12, 2013, the ninth anniversary of the enforced disappearance of Somchai Neelaphaijit passed. The Asian Human Rights Commission chooses to note this anniversary with continued sorrow for the enforced disappearance of Somchai Neelaphaijit and deep concern for the persistent failure to secure justice in this case. This is nine years in which the […]

A 14-day caravan launched on March 1 at the Al-Manzar downstream Kotri, Jamshoro located at the bank of River Indus culminated at its last destination in Islamabad on March 14, 2013 to mark the  International Day of Action for Rivers and Against Dams. Led by PFF chairperson Mohammed Ali Shah, Executive Director Pakistan Institute of […]

On the occasion of the 45th anniversary of the Jabidah massacre, the Mindanao Peoples Caucus calls upon the Bangsamoro people to unite  and close ranks at this most critical stage of their political struggle as a distinct people with a proud history in Mindanao.  More than ever, it is time to set aside ideological and […]

In mythology we always hear about transformations; that a frog became a prince, or a beautiful princess became an ugly hag, and the like. These stories reflect the phenomenon of transformation, which happens in the lives of individuals as well as societies. When we talk about Sri Lanka, we also see many similar transformations. Some […]

Countless individuals accused of apostasy and blasphemy face threats, imprisonment, and execution. Blasphemy laws in over 30 countries and apostasy laws in over 20 aim primarily to restrict thought, expression and the rights of Muslims, ex-Muslims and non-Muslims alike. On 14 March 2013, we, the undersigned, call for an international day of action to defend […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is sharing with you the notes taken during the trial observation of falsely charged activist, Temogen ‘Cocoy’ Tulawie. As mentioned earlier, the trial of Tulawie’s case had already been transferred to Manila and he is presently now detained in that city. After his trial was moved to […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is requesting your intervention to demand that an investigation be conducted into allegations of the violent dispersal of protesting students. The students, who were opposing the appointment of the new head of a State university due to allegation of corruption, were attacked by joint forces of the […]

When the case regarding the torture of Chamila Bandara Jayaratne came before the Supreme Court yesterday (March 11) the lawyer appearing for the respondent police officers, Mr. Manohara de Silva, mislead the court by stating that leave to proceed had not been granted by the Supreme Court in this case. In fact, leave to proceed […]

Sections 295 and 295A of the Pakistan Penal Code do not differentiate between Islam and Christianity These are just two of the photos, among many, taken during the attack on Joseph Colony, a Christian residential area in Lahore, the capital of Punjab province. The pictures tell the real story of the attack by Muslims extremists […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received disturbing information from Samaj Chetna Adhikar Manch, Rewa, Madhya Pradesh regarding local goons threatening to kill its activists. The organisation, working in Java block of the district, has been in the forefront of the struggle against malnutrition and the widespread corruption in welfare schemes that […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) wishes to share with you the testimony of the daughter of a political activist. The man is now in jail and his daughter relates as to how he was arrested, deliberately kept from his family and how the trial of his case is being dragged out. The […]

Every year, this day represents a suitable occasion to remember the battles fought and the recognition gained, but above all it is a moment of reflection concerning all those achievements not yet acquired. This year in particular, the fifty-seventh session of the Commission on the Status of Women has been scheduled between March 4th and 15th at […]

The Office of UN Human Rights Council, Civil Society Section, Geneva. Switzerland Letter to the UNHRC in Support of North and East Christian Clergy Sri Lanka Dear Sir / Madam, We the undersigned individuals and groups vehemently support and endorse the views and demands, contained in the letter sent on 18th Feb. 2013 by 133 […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is deeply concerned that the pattern of targeted attacks on human rights and political activists, which was common in the past, has once again emerged. An activist had been killed, their relatives arrested over questionable, if not fabricated charges, and offices and colleagues robbed in a systematic […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is extremely concerned by reports that the Executive Director of the Human Rights Alliance was assaulted by six unidentified persons in retaliation for an article denouncing the impunity surrounding the murder of a school teacher by Maoist cadres in 2002. The four assailants, thought to be Maoist […]

Oxford HR is working with Amnesty International (AI) to recruit a Regional Growth Coordinator (Asia Pacific). For the past 50 years AI has brought people together to fight for human rights. Their aim is simple: an end to human rights abuses. Independent, international and influential, they campaign for justice, freedom and truth wherever they’re denied. […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that a human rights organization, working on women and children’s issues was banned by the government of Gilgit-Baltistan, in the Northern area of Pakistan, due to the pressure of Muslim extremist groups. The government through a notification asked the AGHE to immediately close down […]

Sri Lanka is now before the United Nations Human Rights Council at a time when the Council is to discuss in what ways Sri Lanka can improve the human rights situation of its people. The overall mind set with which the government is approaching the Council can be summed up with the phrase, “Catch us […]

เผยแพร่วันที่ 20 กุมภาพันธ์ 2556 ใบแจ้งข่าว การจัดสัมมนาเรื่อง ปีที่ 10 กฎอัยการศึก และการก่อความไม่สงบ: ยุทธ์ศาสตร์ภาคประชาชน สิทธิมนุษยชน ความยุติธรรม และการเปลี่ยนผ่านความขัดแย้งสู่สันติภาพ เนื่องด้วยมูลนิธิผสานวัฒนธรรม และมูลนิธิศูนย์ทนายความมุสลิม โดยการสนับสนุนของกองทุน แคนาดา จะจัดให้มีการสัมมนาเรื่อง ปีที่ 10 กฎอัยการศึก และการก่อความไม่สงบ: ยุทธศาสตร์ด้านส่งเสริมประชาธิปไตย สิทธิมนุษยชน ความยุติธรรมและการเปลี่ยนผ่านความขัดแย้งสู่สันติภาพ ในวันที่ 27 กุมภาพันธ์ พ.ศ. 2556 ณ ห้องประชุม NERO ชั้น 3 โรงแรมบางกอกชฎา ถนนรัชดาภิเษก กรุงเทพฯ เวลา 9:00-16.30 น. การสัมมนาครั้งนี้มีวัตถุประสงค์เพื่อสะท้อนให้เห็นสถานการณ์ความไม่สงบในจังหวัดชายแดนใต้ นับ แต่เหตุการณ์ในปี พ.ศ. 2547 ถึงปัจจุบัน เป็นปีที่ 10 ที่ได้มีการประกาศใช้กฎอัยการศึกและกฎหมายพิเศษด้านความมั่นคงอีก 2 ฉบับ ซึ่งมาตรการของฝ่ายบริหารในการแก้ไขปัญหาความไม่สงบอย่างต่อเนื่อง แต่สถานการณ์ความรุนแรงยังไม่มีแนวโน้มที่จะยุติได้ในเร็ววัน […]