Right to education

Dear friends, A 14-year-old school child, Uve Adikarige Shashendra Sampath of Horana Thakshila Primary School was severely tortured by a teacher on 20 October 2011. This assault has happened despite the assurance of the government that violence against school children would be closely monitored. This case is yet another illustration of the fact that the […]

Dear friends,  The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is making an exceptionally Urgent Appeal following the assault on Dr. N J Nonis, the Registrar of the Sri Lanka Medical Council (SLMC) by two unknown persons on 4 October 2011. As is customary in Sri Lanka the investigations was delayed and the police have now arrested […]

The increase in the government’s tolerance of the actions of the militants and fundamentalists and the subsequent insecurity this causes has put the citizens in a state of wilderness and chaos. The failure of the state to provide security to its citizens and other fundamental rights such as: the right to practice the religion of […]

A Joint Statement by Vikas Samvad and the Asian Human Rights Commission Despicable it might be, yet it is a relatively irrelevant incident in India. The latest is the case of Firoz, a 12-year-old boy who is now reportedly suffering from serious psychological trauma after being forced by a Head Constable of the Railway Protection […]

The misuse of blasphemy laws are no longer the prerogative of religious bigots or fundamentalists. It is now being used in every section of society, particularly members of the teaching staff who are eager to contribute in pushing the country towards a religious intolerant state. Indeed, the enthusiasm of the educational staff in this instance […]

Dear friends,  The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that a 13 year-old school child was beaten by his class teacher in full view of the other students of his class. The parents of the child and others demonstrated in front of the school and the educational authorities promised to take action. However, […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that the villagers living on Mayadip Island, Narayanganj district have been deprived of their right to food as a result of sand extraction by a private company, Micro International since July 2010. The governmental authorities have failed to prevent the company from extracting sand […]

Dear friends,  Mr. Saliya Chandrasena and Padma Jayanthi are the parents of an 11 year child, Aruna Dinujaya Chandrasena. They wanted to admit their child to a better school for his education so in May 2011 they admitted their child to Lakpahana Adventist College Mailapitiya to year 6. During the process of admitting the child […]

Dear friends,  Impunity is being provided to a perpetrator of sexual harassment by the higher authorities and members of the ruling alliance. It is alleged by women’s organisations that the prime minister’s office, the governor of Punjab province and members of the national assembly from the ruling alliance are undermining the newly passed bill against […]

Dear friends,  The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that Maddegama Acharige Ishan Maleesha (13) of Devrampura, Kapugama, Devinuwara in the Matara district was a grade 7 student of Gandara Central College. He was assaulted with a pole by the teacher of the same school while he was studying and suffered several injuries. […]

Dear friends, We wish to share with you the following article from Ashoka Pakistan, written by Mr. Amir Murtaza. Asian Human Rights Commission Hong Kong An article from Ashoka Pakistan forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission By: Amir Murtaza It is a fact that every day in Pakistan a number of children suffer physical […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that a 16 year-old school child, Lahiru Madushan Suriarachchi of Horana Royal College was ill-treated by the principal of his school. The child had his cut his hair and was beaten severely by the principal. When the parents went to make a complaint to […]

Sri Lanka will be celebrating its independence from the British Empire on February 4, 2011. The lamentation that independence has not meant a great deal to the people of Sri Lanka is commonly heard. However, the causes that created this situation have often not been examined. The very meaning of independence for citizens of any […]

The integrity of a republic and the determination of its people depend upon the legitimacy of their government. Since declaring the Union of India to be a sovereign, socialist, secular, democratic republic that assures its citizens justice, equality, and liberty and to be a nation that endeavours to promote among them all fraternity, 61 years […]

Sofie Rordam Sri Lankan citizens are protected against torture and arbitrary arrest in sections 11, 12 and 13 of the Constitution of Sri Lanka. In addition Sri Lanka has ratified the United Nations Convention against Torture and Cruel and Inhuman Treatment in 1994. While the legislation is there, the effectuation is not. The gap between […]

Basil Fernando The attacks on the students and rhetoric against them appear in many of the reports covering Sri Lanka today. The Minister, S.B. Dissanayake is heard over television channels talking in the crudest language against the students using such words as “haraka” (bulls and buffalos) which is rather unbecoming of a minister dealing with […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information regarding the systematic discrimination faced by a Christian teacher in Lahore. After being repeatedly abused allegedly by her principal, she was dismissed without valid ground or lawful compensation. Her case is another example of the discriminatory treatment that members of religious minorities – and […]

Dear friends,  The Asian Human Rights Commission has learned that police in Lahore made no effort to protect university staff from violent attacks by expelled students from a conservative Muslim organization earlier this month. One professor sustained serious head injuries and bone fractures. Local police then avoided filing an FIR for a week and when […]

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) regrets to inform you that Ms. Bhuje died on New Year’s Eve after struggling against sickness and hunger since April 2009. She leaves behind seven children. Before Bhuje’s death, her husband died of Tuberculosis in January 2009. Facing lack of food and lack of a sustainable livelihood, […]

Dear friends,  The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that a teacher was harassed and fired from her job at a segregated secondary school after she spoke out about discrimination against her Dalit students. She was then prevented from taking up a job by colleagues at another secondary school, and now receives regular […]