Human rights defenders

A Statement by the Asian Human Rights Commission on the occasion of the International Human Rights Day 2012 The full report is available for download at: http://www.humanrights.asia/resources/hrreport/2012/ahrc-spr-008-2012.pdf/view  The PPP-led government under President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Ministers Yousaf Raza Gillani and Raja Pervez Ashraf has made some effort to improve the protection of human rights […]

According to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), adopted and proclaimed on 10 December 1948, the Human Rights Day presents an opportunity, every year, to celebrate human rights, highlight a specific issue and advocate for the full enjoyment of all human rights by everyone everywhere. The day is observed every year to ensure the […]

We the undersigned, strongly condemn the arrest of four students of the University of Jaffna (UoJ) by the Terrorism Investigation Department (TID) on Thursday, November 29, 2012. While welcoming the release of Kanesamoorthy Sutharsan, a student of the Jaffna Medical Faculty on the morning of Tuesday, December 4, we condemn the continued detention of the […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission is concerned by a recent wave of arrests in Burma, signaling that continuation of repressive practices from earlier periods of direct military rule. Among those arrested are a number of leaders of recent demonstrations against a copper mining project in the north of the country, and a former […]

Lack of public awareness is one the major reason of absence of watchful oversight of citizens on their rights, issues and concerned authorities. It has been appropriately said that informed citizenry is empowered citizenry; the more people are informed, the more they are vocal and critical on their issues and rights .In this way , […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is deeply concerned by the reprisal on an urban poor leader and other residents for filing complaints and cooperating with the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Adequate Housing. The urban poor leader and the residents, who opposed the demolition of their communities in Manila, had no knowledge […]

Today, the federal Ministry for Human Rights arranged an inter-ministerial meeting to discuss the proposed law against torture and custodial death. The proposed draft of the law was submitted by the Asian Human Rights Commission and Anti Torture Alliance Pakistan, with the consent of the Karachi Bar Association, Karachi Union of Journalists, Karachi Press Club, […]

NEW REPORT: Special Report: The Philippines’ hollow human rights system http://www.article2.org/pdf/v11n0203.pdf Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has been informed that the trial of Temogen “Cocoy” Tulawie, an indigenous activist who is prosecuted on evidence of forced confession, would now be heard in Manila. Temogen would be moved from a prison in Davao […]

An Open Letter from the Asian Human Rights Commission to the Chairperson, National Human Rights Commission of Bangladesh; case of Mr. Razzak justifies AHRC’s position about the NHRC of Bangladesh ‘The ridiculous role of the NHRC in a completely collapsed rule of law system.‘ Prof. Mizanur Rahman Chairperson, National Human Rights Commission 11th Floor, Gulfeshan […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is pleased to inform you that an indigenous villager, one of the claimants of a disputed ancestral land whom the police had earlier suspected of being a rebel who was wounded in a fight, has already been cleared. The police investigation which they conducted after an appeal […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information from Nervazhi concerning another case of police brutality by officers stationed at Mathilakam Police Station, of Thrissur district in Kerala. According to the case report, the Sub Inspector of Police verbally abused and later brutally tortured Mr. Prashant, a human rights defender and reporter […]

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) deeply regrets to inform you that another indigenous leader has been killed in Misamis Oriental. The victim and his group had been opposing the expansion of a big US-based company operating a palm oil plantation. The company intends to grab the land that the indigenous villagers are […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received updated information regarding illegal sand mining in the Meghna River adjacent to the Mayadip and Nunertek islands. There has been an investigation conducted by the government of Bangladesh, following intervention by the Special Rapporteur on Adequate Housing of the United Nation, which itself followed the […]

Dear friends, Further to our earlier appeal about the plot to kill human rights defender Temogen “Cocoy” Tulawie, the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) urges you to write to the Supreme Court of the Philippines requesting that they urgently act on Tulawie’s petition to reconsider its decision to transfer him from Davao City jail to […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that a female human rights defender, Mrs. Shampa Goswami, is facing suspension from her job as teacher for standing up for a victim of gang rape. The alleged perpetrators, well connected to influential political leaders, have been directly attacking her person, by circulating doctored […]

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has been informed of a plot to kill a human rights activist, Temogen “Cocoy” Tulawie, who is being prosecuted on fabricated charges inside the jail should he be transferred from Davao City to Manila. This plot is serious because the court has already postponed the scheduled hearing […]

Last week we reported on three great protests taking place in Asia. We will now add a fourth from Pakistan where there was a worldwide protest against the charging of a 14-year-old girl, Rimsha, under the notorious blaspheme law. We can now briefly look at the partial results of these protests. In India the protestors at the […]

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is saddened that after eight years of the assassination of Munir Said Thalib, there has been no sign from the government that it will take the necessary measures to bring those responsible for the killing to justice. Munir was a prominent and outspoken human rights activist in Indonesia. On […]

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) deeply regrets to inform you that two people were killed in separate incidents on September 3 and 4, 2012. One of the victims was the son of a leader of an indigenous tribe opposing mining and the other was a transport leader advocating for the interest of […]

When people are hurt by the actions of authorities, they protest. When the hurt is deep and widespread it could give rise to collective modes of protest. Three such protest movements are now taking place in Asia. One is in Hong Kong, where the protesters are young students, supported by parents and a large section […]