Judicial system

INDONESIA: A 72-year-old man and his son sentenced to death penalty on fabricated charges

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information from a local NGO, the Commission for the Disappeared and Victims of Violence (KontraS), regarding the fabrication of charges and torture committed by the police against a 72-year old man and his two sons. The innocent men were falsely charged, tried and sentenced to […]

PAKISTAN: Brutal murder of a 13 year old boy by the wife of a feudal lord

Two brothers, Javed, age 9 and Jameel, age 13 were taken against their parents’ will from their village, Kotla Rahm Ali Shah, to go work in Multan as servants in the home of Faheem Abbas Shah, the land-owner for whom the family works. The parents of the boys repeatedly asked for the return of their […]

INDIA: The promise and pretence of democracy

Article | India | 28-06-2013

The Constitution of India explicitly states that the right to life, equality, education, and to participate in elections as fundamental rights. When these rights are violated, the Indian system does not uphold the right to justice as a fundamental right. However, the right to justice is an essential feature of democracy. India may be pursuing […]

INDIA: Invest in Food Security for your own good

Article | India | 27-06-2013

The National Food Security Bill (NFSB) has been the center of much debate since it was introduced in Parliament by the UPA government in December 2011. One of the most persistent arguments against a food security bill from the corporate lobby, lead by the FICCI and CII, is that its costs will burden the budget and […]

SOUTH KOREA: The National Intelligence Service is a root cause of the crackdown on democracy and human rights

The country has entered into political turmoil. It is because of a series of allegations of illegal interference by the National Intelligence Service (NIS) in the Presidential election, held in December last year. As more information is released, those who worry about democracy in the country – including students – are starting to decry the […]

PAKISTAN: NUJ calls for support for BBC Pakistan journalists

The NUJ is seriously concerned about the job cuts at BBC Pakistan and offers support and assistance to colleagues. The service in Pakistan is linked to the BBC World Service which is a UK public funded organisation. In May 2013 BBC Pakistan announced plans to cut 9 reporters out of 14. At the same time […]

BANGLADESH: Torture survivors and relatives of custodial murders share their gruesome experiences in People’s Tribunal

A Joint Statement by the Asian Human Rights Commission and Odhikar A survivor of torture, relatives of a survivor and of two victims of death, who were tortured to death in police custody, have shared their gruesome experiences in a People’s Tribunal today, June 26, 2013, in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Bangladeshi human rights group Odhikar, in collaboration with the […]

PAKISTAN: the AHRC condemns the Taliban bomb attack on the acting Chief Justice of Sindh

The acting Chief Justice of Sindh provincial High Court, Justice Maqbool Baqar, was attacked and seriously injured this morning in a bomb blast by the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). The convoy of the senior judge was passing through a crowded market place in Karachi, the capital of Sindh province. Nine persons were killed and fifteen were […]

PAKISTAN: Civil Society urges Govt. enact law to end Torture

International Day in support of Torture victims Rights-based organizations, HR defenders vow to synergies efforts to combat Torture LAHORE:(26th June 2013):“The large scale instances of torture in custody is a common practice in Pakistan and there is no law in the country to stop this menace. The Parliament of Pakistan should enact law for criminalization of torture. Govt. […]

INDONESIA: Special report on practice of torture in Indonesia released

(Hong Kong/Padang, Indonesia, June 26, 2013) To mark the UN International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, the Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC) released an advance version of its special report on practice of torture in Indonesia today. The report titled: “A facade of justice for torture victims in Indonesia”, is the first special […]

INDIA: The pain of progress

Statement | India | 25-06-2013

The United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture observed around the world on June 26 serves as a sober reminder of the reality that this ugly side of humanity is still very much alive in our contemporary and supposedly civilized society. It is a reality that is even harder to grapple with […]

INDIA: क़ानून के हकदारों को योजना का हितग्राही बनाने की कवायद (मनरेगा 5)

मध्य प्रदेश में देरी से हुए भुगतान की कुल राशियाँ जिले का नाम वर्ष (राशि करोड़ रूपए में)   2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 (जनवरी’13) अलीराजपुर 27.65 23.66 13.68 बडवानी 88.44 51.51 31.92 खंडवा 45.01 43.44 27.58 खरगोन 71.52 68.59 31.31 शिवपुरी 35.63 32.21 18.66 डिंडोरी 49.91 52.93 41.63 बालाघाट 70.12 73.97 52.32 श्योपुर 25.78 19.38 11.34 […]

PAKISTAN: Every day, at least one person undergoes physical torture in each police station in the country

Every year, people around the world observe the UN International Day in Support of Torture Victims (generally referred to as the Anti-Torture Day) to reassert that torture must be eliminated. In Pakistan, too, people observe the day in support of torture victims and hold widespread discussions about criminalising torture. Pakistan has ratified the UN-CAT and […]

BANGLADESH: Torture-friendly & Corrupt Policing Needs Urgent Reform

An Open Letter by the Asian Human Rights Commission to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Ms. Navy Pillay on the occasion of UN International Day In Support of Victims of Torture Ms. Navanethem Pillay United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights OHCHR-UNOG 8-14 Avenue de la Paix 1211 Geneva 10 SWITZERLAND Fax: +41 […]

CAMBODIA: Rights to Justice and Rehabilitation of Tortured Victims

A Joint Statement by the Asian Human Rights Commission, the Cambodian Human Rights Action Committee (CHRAC), the Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association (ADHOC), Transcultural Psychosocial Organization Cambodia (TPO) and the Dignity-Danish Institute Against Torture on the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture (Click here for Khmer version) As part of their concerted attempt to combat […]

NEPAL: Bringing the eradication of torture back on the political agenda

A Statement by the Asian Human Rights Commission on the occasion of the International day in support of victims of torture. On the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) wishes to express its solidarity with the survivors who are still dealing with the consequences of the torture […]

PAKISTAN: A Christian lawyer has been threatened with dire consequences for assisting three Christian women, who were stripped naked and paraded on the street

A Christian lawyer has been threatened with dire consequences if he continues to provide legal assistance to three Christian women who were stripped naked and paraded on the street by the henchmen of ruling party.  Mr. Mushtaq Gill, the director of LEAD (Legal Evangelical Association Development) organization, is getting death threats from militants. He is […]

SRI LANKA: Siridhamma College teacher severely beat a student

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that Bewantha Udeep Abeysiriwardena Wijesinghe, a 15 year old student of Siridhamma College of Galle, was brutally beaten by his teacher of the school Mr. S.V. Gamini. Bewantha was briefly hospitalised and his father, Mr. D.D. Abysiriwardene, made a complaint with the Akmeemana Police […]

THAILAND: Pitsanuloke Administrative Court orders Mae Sot Municipality to provide 750,000 baht as compensation for the death of a migrant workers’ child

For immediate release on 20 June 2013 Press Release Pitsanuloke Administrative Court orders Mae Sot Municipality to provide 750,000 baht as compensation for the death of a migrant workers’ child On 19 June 2013, the Pitsanuloke Administrative Court, Pitsanuloke Province, ruled in the case between Ms. Ma Maw Di Yan, aka “Juju”, the procurator of Zamira, aka […]

PAKISTAN: Anti-torture day will be observed in Karachi, Lahore and other parts of the country

The UN International Day in Support of Torture Victims will be observed in Pakistan with a pledge to struggle to eliminate torture from society. Two seminars will be held on this occasion, as well as demonstrations against torture committed by law enforcement agencies, including the armed forces. Human rights activists will urge the government to […]