Rule of law

PAKISTAN: Six year old Christian girl shot dead after father failed to pay interest on a loan

A Statement from British Pakistani Christian Association forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission Some 8 months ago, a Christian father named Waris Masih (36 yrs.), who resides in the city of Faisalabad, borrowed 40,000 rupees from a Muslim money lender named, Ajmal alias Mithu Cheema. Mr. Masih needed the loan to pay for repairs […]

NEPAL: The struggles of Women Human Rights Defenders in Nepal

Article | Nepal | 11-12-2017

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) and the CIVICUS spoke with Ms. Rajkumari Upadhaya about her experiences as a Woman Human Rights Defenders (WHRD) in Nepal, changing societal attitudes towards women and hope for the future. The interview has also been published as an article by openDemocracy, an independent global media platform. Women in Nepal face […]

INDONESIA: Human rights merely acknowledged, not yet protected

On the occasion of international human rights day, the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) observes the major human rights issues of concern in Indonesia. Impunity and a fragile criminal justice system have let down victims of human rights abuse and those seeking justice. According to research by the Indonesian Legal Roundtable (ILR), Indonesia’s rule of […]

PAKISTAN: Statement on the occasion of International Day for human rights

Pakistan is a signatory to several international human rights conventions. The country has in its constitution a good set of fundamental rights. Yet, the human rights situation in Pakistan is deteriorating. All human rights are violated in Pakistan with impunity. Rights of women and children; access to justice; labour rights; rights to: housing, life and fair trial, education, […]

PHILIPPINES: Martial law (ML) extension in Mindanao, an inch closer to nationwide ML

A Statement from Alliance for the Advancement of People’s Rights (KARAPATAN) forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission Reference: Cristina Palabay, Secretary General, 0917-3162831 Karapatan Public Information Desk, 0918-9790580 Karapatan, on December 11, 2017, questioned President Rodrigo Duterte’s move to extend martial law for another year, following the AFP and the PNP’s recommendation. This is despite […]

PHILIPPINES: Massive protests against human rights violation under Duterte’s violent presidency

(Hong Kong, 9 December 2017) The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has been informed that different human rights groups across the country will hold protests and a series of other events tomorrow, December 10, to mark the International Human Rights Day. Today, the Alliance for the Advancement of People’s Rights (Karapatan), an alliance of human […]

PAKISTAN: Recover peace activist Raza Khan picked up by unknown persons

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received updated information regarding the abduction and disappearance of a peace and civil society activist, Mr. Raza Mehmood Khan. Since he was abducted from his house by unknown persons on December 2, his whereabouts are unknown. Fellow peace activists blame the military establishment for his abduction […]

INDIA: Judiciary fails to stand up for equality, justice and human dignity

December 10 is Human Rights Day, and this year will celebrate 70 years of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). The theme this year is “let’s stand up for equality, justice and human dignity”, a fitting exhortation for the year ahead in India. For the ordinary person in India, the High courts and the […]

NEPAL: Government must move beyond partisan interests for realization of rights

In 2017, Nepal saw local elections taking place in the country after more than two decades. Federal Parliament and Provincial Assembly elections were also conducted this year. The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) congratulates the government of Nepal for successfully completing the elections. Voter turnout was high in response to the lack of effective political […]

PHILIPPINES: Resist the escalating fascism of the Duterte government Justice for Fr. Tito Paez and all victims of human rights violations! Stand for peace, Stop the Killings

A Statement from Hong Kong Campaign for the Advancement of Human Rights and Peace in the Philippines (HKCAHRPP), Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN-Hong Kong/ Macau) and Promotion of Church People’s Response (PCPR-Hong Kong) forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission. The Hong Kong Campaign for the Advancement of Human Rights and Peace in the Philippines (HKCAHRPP), […]

ASIA: Lawyer files for Writ of Mandamus against Supreme Court Judge Eva Wansundara

A Petition filed in the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka by senior lawyer and public interest litigation activist Nagananda Kodituwakku forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) READ FULL TEXT OF APPEAL HERE The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) wishes to forward to you the following Petition filed in the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka, […]

BANGLADESH/MYANMAR: An agreement to stifle witnesses and that will not end the crisis

The governments of Bangladesh and Myanmar have signed a bilateral arrangement concerning the repatriation of the Rohingya from camps in Bangladesh to Rakhine state in Myanmar. The agreement was signed by both governments on 23 November 2017 at Nay Pyi Taw. The bilateral agreement is only a first step in recognising the crisis. The agreement however does […]

PHILIPPINES: Response to Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque’s statements on the complaints filed by Karapatan to the UN

A Statement from Alliance for the Advancement of Peoples Rights (KARAPATAN)  forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission When we file complaints to the UN, or when we issue any statement or document cases, we ensure that victims, survivors and/or their relatives not only give their consent for their cases to be publicized or filed […]

INDIA: Farmers in border areas must be allowed access to their lands

Statement | India | 04-12-2017

The border regions of India are manned by members of the Border Security Force (BSF) personnel, who are always heavily armed, and wield significant power over the residents of these border villages. Recent events have demonstrated the highhandedness of these personnel in dealing with civilians. The primary occupation of the residents of the village is […]

SRI LANKA: Hand Book for Barefoot Lawyers and Human Rights Defenders, produced by Janasansadaya, People’s Forum, Sri Lanka (Sinhala)

Reviewed by Basil Fernando The Hand Book for Bare footLawyers and Human Rights Defenders is a very useful and valuable contribution for litigants in Sri Lanka. The book is produced by Janasansadaya, and edited by Chitral Perera and Chandrasena Badhugama. Janasansadaya is a reputed organisation based in Panadura, Sri Lanka, which has been serving litigants from mainly low incomegroups. The […]

PHILIPPINES: CTUHR Statement On Spate of Extrajudicial Killings and Threat of Crackdown An all-out defacto Martial Law

A Statement from Center for Trade Union and Human Rights, Inc. (CTUHR) forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission Twenty workers, trade union organizers and labour rights defenders had been extra-judicially killed since President Duterte came to power and wage its bloody and brutal wars on drugs, on terrorism and insurgency. Women in the informal sector, had […]

INDONESIA: Critics Using Meme Against Public Authority is Part of Freedom of Expression

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has learned about the following situation. Mr. Setya Novanto, speaker and Chairman of the House of Representatives, was summoned by the KPK(the Corruption Eradication Commission) to take part in an examination process. He is a bribery suspect in the gigantic corruption case of the Electronic Identity Card (E-KTP). There […]

SRI LANKA: අපරාධ නඩු ඉක්මනින් විසදීම ගැන පාර්ලිමේන්තු කොමිටු වර්තාව – On Parliamentary Sectoral Committee Recommendations (In Sinhala)

In this video commentary, Mr Basil Fernando of the Asian Human Rights Commission comments on the recommendations of the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Legal Affairs, on the expeditious and efficient administration of criminal justice. This Committee made a report on the above topic on the 20th September 2017. In that Report while the Committee admitted that unacceptable and shameful […]

INDIA: Supreme Court agrees Hadiya has the right to choice, not her parents

An article from The Indian Express forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission The Kerala High Court made up for the lack of evidence by relying on its morality and biases, its prejudiced notions of how a young woman must behave and its obvious sympathies with Hadiya’s parents who were unable to exercise any control […]

AHRC TV: Indonesia’s corruption watchdog arrests Parliament Speaker and other stories in JUST ASIA, Episode 198

This week Just Asia begins with Indonesia, where the Corruption Eradication Commission finally secured the arrest of Parliament Speaker Mr. Setya Novanto. Novanto is a suspect in the national electronic identity card scheme case, having caused losses of IDR 2.3 trillion. Next, Pakistan observed Universal Children’s Day on November 20 as a mere formality, while […]