Judicial system

PAKISTAN: Whereabouts of 9,120 arrestees from Karachi remain unknown

The suspects are missing after arrest and 150 have been extrajudicially killed during the last three months of the “Karachi operation” The federal government has started an operation in Karachi, the capital of Sindh, under the title: “Targeted Operation” with the support of the police and Pakistan Rangers. The operation, which commenced on September 5, […]

PAKISTAN: Freedom from Hunger-privilege granted or acknowledged right?

“Food security exists when all people, at all times, have physical, social and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food.” Aly Ercelan and Muhammad Ali Shah A recent publication of Rome-based UN agencies (FAO along with IFAD and WFP of the UN) aims at global food security. It is worth a serious commentary for […]

SRI LANKA: ‘We must put a Stop to Torture’ says Eran Wickramaratne, MP

The following is a translation of a statement made by Eran Wickramaratne, MP, in Parliament on December 3, 2013. Today, I am going to take the opportunity of the short time accorded to me, to speak on the protection of the lives of those who are being arrested by the police. We all know of the  […]

ASIA: Human Rights Asia TV – Weekly Round Up – Episode 9

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is happy to announce the latest issue of its weekly video news bulletin, the Human Rights Asia TV – Weekly Roundup. The 9th Episode of the Weekly Roundup is being released on the 10th December 2013, on the eve of Human Rights Day, and we are bringing you a special report on […]

SOUTH KOREA: Sad day to mark international human rights day for the villagers of Miryang, Gangjeong and the workers

The situation in Miryang seems to have been deteriorating, which has shown by the phenomenon of violence in the area, including threats and harassment followed by arrest and detention against villagers who have protested against the construction of a 765 Kv power transmission tower. After two statements issued in this regard(vicarious administrative execution and discrimination, it was […]

BANGLADESH: Human Dignity Denied

The full report is available for download at: http://www.humanrights.asia/resources/hrreport/2013/AHRC-SPR-008-2013.pdf/view Human Rights Day is being observed in Bangladesh, amidst extreme forms of humiliation and denial of human dignity. Lives, livelihoods, and liberties are not only being undermined but being literally denied in the political quest of a few. The two major political camps of Bangladesh are in […]

ASIA: Civil society needs to converge to protect rights

Commemorating the 64th Anniversary of Human Rights Day, the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has released a comprehensive report, State of Human Rights in Asia 2013, covering Sri Lanka, India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Hunger in Asia. The report can be accessed here. The global theme for this year is 20 Years: Working for your rights. […]

SRI LANKA: Will international treaties protect human rights in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka’s ratifications of United Nations human rights conventions signal a certain willingness to adhere to the UN treaties and to be guided by international law. But the record of actual compliance with the international treaties tells a different story. The 1969 Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties says individual states must comply in […]

INDIA: Challenge the Draconian Black Laws in Meghalaya

PRESS RELEASE, December 10, 2013 Thma-U-Rangli-Juki (TUR), a progressive people’s organisation, will hold a street corner meeting on the draconian Meghalaya Preventive Detention Act (MPDA), 1995 and Meghalaya Maintenance of Public Order Act (MMPO) to observe International Human Rights Day on 10th December at Khyndai Lad, Shillong at 2 p.m. This will kick off the […]

ASIA: Parliamentarians key to realising Pacific health rights

The important role of parliamentarians in the Pacific needs to be bolstered so as recent commitments to advance reproductive health and rights can be realised. That’s the message of the Asian Forum of Parliamentarians on Population and Development (AFPPD) as they host a workshop for parliamentarians beginning at Papua New Guinea’s Parliament House in Port […]

PHILIPPINES: The killings of five journalists and activists in a week is evidence of a ‘license to kill’

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is deeply concerned over the renewed targeted attacks against journalists, human rights and political activists and indigenous people, in the Philippines. The victims, journalists, who are known critical of corruption and in local politics; rights activists and indigenous people, who are engaged in advocacy against extrajudicial killings and for […]

SRI LANKA: Indebtedness, militarization, & the threat against all human rights

A Statement by the Asian Human Rights Commission on Human Rights Day Sinhalese The full report is available for download at: http://www.humanrights.asia/resources/hrreport/2013/AHRC-SPR-006-2013.pdf/view International human rights day is a day for the celebration of human dignity. It is an appropriate date to take stock of what progress, if any, has been made in the promotion and protection […]

ශරී ලංකාව: ණයගැතිබව, හමුදාකරණය, සහ සකල මානව හිමිකම්වලට එරෙහි තර්ජනය

English The full report is available for download at: http://www.humanrights.asia/resources/hrreport/2013/AHRC-SPR-006-2013.pdf/view අන්තර්ජාතික මානව හිමිකම් දිනය මානව අභිමානය සමරන දිනයකි. එහිදී, ශරී   ලංකාවේ මානව හිමිකම් පර්ත වර්ධනය හා ආරක්ෂාව සම්බන්ධයෙන් යම්කිසි දියුණුවක් ලබා තිබේ නම් එම දියුණුව කුමක්දැයි සලකා බැලීම සඳහා මේ දිනය යොදාගැනීම සුදුසු ය. අවාසනාවකට මෙන් මේ සම්බන්ධයෙන් පරුසුගමනයක් දැකගත නොහැකි අතර ඒ වෙනුවට පැහැදිලිවම […]

PAKISTAN: The Country has turned into a Killing Field

The full report is available for download at: http://www.humanrights.asia/resources/hrreport/2013/AHRC-SPR-005-2013.pdf/view A Statement by the Asian Human Rights Commission on Human Rights Day AHRC releases its Report on the State of Human Rights in Pakistan, 2013 In 2013, the people of Pakistan have remained at the mercy of state and non-state actors who resort to violence as a […]

PHILIPPINES: Human Rights Report for 2013

The full report is available for download at: http://www.humanrights.asia/resources/hrreport/2013/AHRC-SPR-001-2013.pdf/view (Hong Kong, December 8, 2013) On the occasion of the Human Rights Day, 2013, the Philippine Desk of the Asian Human Rights Commission has produced a 19 page report detailing the prevailing situation in the country. This year’s report is entitled, ‘License’ to torture, kill and to […]

INDONESIA: Democracy incomplete in 15 years of reform

The full report is available for download at: http://www.humanrights.asia/resources/hrreport/2013/AHRC-SPR-002-2013.pdf/view In commemoration of Human Rights Day on December 10, the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is issuing a brief report on the state of human rights in Indonesia. Using the examples of events which took place in 2013, the report highlights three crucial subjects which have been […]

INDIA: Where freedom & dignity remains a mirage

The full report is available for download at: http://www.humanrights.asia/resources/hrreport/2013/AHRC-SPR-003-2013.pdf/view Human Rights Day commemorates the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on December 10, 1948, which declares freedom and equality for every human being in the world. The Indian constitution, adopted by the people of independent India a year later, guarantees each Indian citizen right […]

NEPAL: Human Rights in Abeyance

The full report is available for download at: http://www.humanrights.asia/resources/hrreport/2013/AHRC-SPR-004-2013.pdf/view The dissolution of the Constituent Assembly in May 2012 stalled efforts to trigger debate on human rights and institutional reform. The political transition kept Nepal in limbo in 2013 as well, until a successful second Constituent Assembly elections on 19 November 2013. The elections have been lauded […]

SOUTH KOREA: Civil society launches ‘Samsung Labor Watch’

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) wishes to forward to you the following press release and declaration from ‘Samsung Labor Watch’. For more information, please directly contact below. Mr. CHO Dae Hwan Samsung Labour Watch Address: 3/F, 135, Dangsan-ro, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, Korea Telephone: +82 (0)2 3667 1210 Fax: +82 (0)2 312 1638 e-mail: […]

ASIA: Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela — AHRC salutes a great man, embraces his Legacy

Statement | Asia | 06-12-2013

The Asian Human Rights Commission joins all people across the world to salute Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela of South Africa, who passed away at the age of 95 yesterday. In the person of Nelson Mandela the world can proudly celebrate a towering personality, whose life has universal relevance for all times to come. His life and […]