Human rights defenders

INDONESIA: AHRC launches human rights report on the occasion of the International Human Rights Day

(Hong Kong, December 07, 2011) On the occasion of the upcoming International Human Rights Day on December 10, 2011, the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is launching its annual report on the State of Human Rights in Indonesia in 2011. The full report is available for download at http://www.humanrights.asia/resources/hrreport/2011/AHRC-SPR-006-2011/view. In the report, the AHRC witnessed a […]

NEPAL: Commitments to accountability and justice continue to be jeopardized in 2011

A Statement by the Asian Human Rights Commission on the Occasion of the International Human Rights Day, December 10, 2011 On the occasion of the 63rd Human Rights Day, the Asian Human Rights Commission is releasing its annual report on the state of human rights protection in Nepal through 2011. The report is available here. Given […]

INDONESIA: Human Rights in 2011 – The Decay of Pancasila and Constitutional Protections

A Statement by the Asian Human Rights Commission on the Occasion of the International Human Rights Day, December 10, 2011 On the occasion of the International Human Rights Day, December 10, 2011 the AHRC publishes its annual report on the State of Human Rights in Indonesia in 2011. The full report will be made available […]

PAKISTAN: A journalist was attacked by terrorists from a banned militant organisation

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information regarding a journalist and prominent human rights defender that has left the country after an attempt to abduct him by a banned Muslim militant organization, the Jamaatud Dawa, which was allegedly involved in sectarian and terrorist attacks both inside and outside the country. He […]

INDIA: Call for withdrawal of all false charges against human rights activists and the villagers who are opposed to the POSCO project

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) wishes to forward to you the following open letter from Women Against Sexual Violence and State Repression to the Governor of Odisha state government, India. Asian Human Rights Commission Hong Kong ——- An Open Letter from Women against Sexual Violence and State Repression (WSS) forwarded by the […]

INDONESIA: New report reveals extent of Papua human rights violations; NGOs meet in Geneva to address their concerns on the situation of human rights in Papua

A Joint Statement by the Faith Based Network on West Papua (FBN), Franciscans International (FI), and the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) Geneva, 3 November 2011 Following last month’s violent dispersal by Indonesian security forces of the Third Papuan Peoples’ Congress in Jayapura, Indonesia has been confronted with the full scale of human rights problems […]

PAKISTAN: The bullet riddled bodies of nine more missing persons including one journalist were found

The disappearances and extrajudicial killings continue and not a single day goes by without the abduction and murder of activists. The family members of disappeared persons who were holding a protest meeting and token hunger strike outside the Quetta Press Club at the capital of Balochistan province were warned by some plain clothed persons that […]

INDIA: Intimidating human rights defenders is despicable

Statement | India | 03-10-2011

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) condemns the intimidation by the state police/government of Ms Kavita Srivastava, the General Secretary of the People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) by undertaking a raid at her residence today. The PUCL is a social action group based in India. It is reported that today morning (3 October) at […]

SRI LANKA: Human Rights Defender tortured in public to death by Special Task Force of police

Dear friends,  The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that human rights defender Mr. Perumal Sivakumara (32) of Kalpitiya Road, Norochchole in the Puttalam District has died after being tortured in public by officers attached to the Special Task Force of the Sri Lanka Police. Perumal a well-known civil rights activist had gone […]

INDIA: Yet another human rights defender at risk in West Bengal

Dear friends,  The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has once again received information from Banglar Manabadhikar Suraksha Mancha (MASUM) concerning the case of threats to a human rights defender Mr Kanai Mondal, since he dared to help a victim of torture, Mr Mahadeb Mondal.  It is reported that the on 30 August 2011, the Camp […]

INDIA: West Bengal police attempting to cover-up crime, colluding with local smugglers

Dear friends,  The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information from Banglar Manabadhikar Suraksha Mancha (MASUM) concerning the case of threats to a human rights defender Mr Faizuddin Biswas, since he dared to complain against a gang of smugglers to the local police. The incident happened on 26 August 2011 at about 2.30 pm. Biswas […]

THAILAND: Court demonstrates contempt for human rights by jailing torture victim on say-so of alleged perpetrator

A court in Bangkok on 10 August 2011 sentenced a torture victim to two years in prison for having spoken out against his alleged torturers. Police Major General Chakthip Chaijinda brought the criminal complaint (Black Case No. 2161/2552) against Mr Suderueman Malae, one of the clients of forcibly abducted and disappeared human rights lawyer Somchai […]

PAKISTAN: Defenders of human rights in Balochistan in need of defence

(Hong Kong, August 10, 2011)  The Asian Human Rights Commission wishes to announce that a report on the situation of the human rights defenders of Balochistan has been uploaded on our website.  This report was compiled by Ms. Angelika Pathak, a London-based researcher who previously worked for Amnesty International as their Pakistan researcher. According to Ms. Pathak […]

PAKISTAN: Land mafia abduct and severely beat a further two fisherfolk activists who remain in serious danger

Dear friends,  The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received updated information that the land mafia of the coastal area of Karachi has abducted two fisherfolk activists, Mr. Latif Dorai and Bilal Ahmed Baloch on 18 July, 2011. The land mafia physically abused both and Mr. Latif was more seriously beaten whereas Mr. Bilal was […]

BANGLADESH: REDRESS and AHRC write to the National Human Rights Commission of Bangladesh to express their concerns about ineffective investigation into violent attack against the human rights defender

A Joint Open Letter from REDRESS and the Asian Human Rights Commission to Prof. Mizanur Rahman, Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission of Bangladesh Dr Mizanur RAHMAN, Chairman National Human Rights Commission of Bangladesh Gulpheshan Plaza, 8, Shahid Salina Parvin Sarak, Maghbazar, Dhaka-1217, BANGLADESH London / Hong Kong, 22 July 2011 Dear Dr Mizanur […]

PAKISTAN: A human rights defender is booked on fake charges of robbery, his brother is arrested and at risk of being tortured

Dear friends,  The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information regarding the persecution and intimidation of a human rights defender and filing of fake charges of robbery against him and his elder brother who is an education department officer of government of Sindh. The case was filed allegedly on the behest of a former […]

PHILIPPINES: No investigation to complaint of torture filed one and a half years ago

Dear friends,  Similar to other cases raised with the Ombudsman the office has also ceased its intervention in the complaint of torture by the three victims, collectively known as the ‘Talisay 3’, invoking the excuse that it is the mandate of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) to investigate complaints of torture. While the Ombudsman […]

HONG KONG: HKSAR should protect and facilitate, not harass and obstruct, human rights observers

In response to the HKSAR’s attempted arrest and subsequent obstruction of a human rights observer of the Hong Kong Human Rights Monitor (HKHRM) in his execution of observation duties and journalists were interrupted and arrested when exercising their duties on the 14th anniversary of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of […]

PHILIPPINES: Ombudsman exonerates policemen ignorant of the law from liability

Dear friends,  Despite of our appeal, the Office of the Ombudsman also exonerated the policemen, who were responsible in filing a charge for “serious resistance and disobedience” on seven farmers and four minors, from liability for ignorance of the law. The charge that the police filed does not exist in the list of criminal offenses […]

NEPAL: Review of the UPR recommendations-4 Protection of Human Rights Defenders

Statement | Nepal | 21-06-2011

A Joint Statement by the Asian Human Rights Commission and Advocacy Forum Following the adoption of the outcome report on the UPR of Nepal, Advocacy Forum (AF) and the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) deplore the government of Nepal’s refusal to take strong and specific commitments related to the protection of human rights defenders. Human […]