Women's rights

AUSTRALIA: Muslim cleric asked by Prime Minister to apologise for statements on marital rape and abuse

Muslims live and worship freely in Australia despite occasional friction A Muslim cleric in Australia who said men have a right to force their wives to have sex has been told to apologise by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd. The cleric, Samir Abu Hamza, reportedly questioned how rape can exist within marriage, and encouraged “light beating” […]

PAKISTAN: A girl was raped and kidnapped by the relatives of a minister and her whereabouts are unknown

[NOTICE: The AHRC has developed this automatic letter-sending system using the “button” below. We encourage you to send your appeal letters via fax or post to them. Fax numbers and postal addresses of the Pakistan authorities are attached below with this appeal. Thank you.] Dear friends,  The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information […]

PAKISTAN: Female students are targeted by Islamic fundamentalists

[NOTICE: The AHRC has developed this automatic letter-sending system using the “button” below. However, in this appeal, we could not include e-mail addresses of some of the Pakistan authorities. We encourage you to send your appeal letters via fax or post to them. Fax numbers and postal addresses of the Pakistan authorities are attached below […]

SRI LANKA: A rape victim was intimidated and harassed by the police to marry her abductor and rapist

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information regarding an incident in which a girl was abducted by a staff of Civil Defense named Mr. Sanjith on November 16, 2008. She was raped in a house for refusing to marry the man. The Dambulla police officers threatened to kill the girl when […]

INDONESIA: Nine women labeled as witches are subjected to ill-treatment in West Papua

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information from the OYO Papua Foundation that nine women have been subjected to ill-treatment after being labeled as ‘Suranggi‘ (witches) by local religious leaders in Seya village, West Papua. They were segregated from their family members and forced to live rough in the jungle where […]

BANGLADESH: Investigating officer of a rape case is colleague of the accused

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that a police officer raped a woman on 7 October 2008 but due to tardy action by police authorities the officer was able to escape arrest. A colleague of the accused has been assigned as the investigating officer. CASE DETAILS: A man known as […]

PAKISTAN: Three girls handed over to a man who killed his wife on the pretext of honour killing as compensation

[NOTICE: The AHRC has developed this automatic letter-sending system using the “button” below. However, in this appeal, we could not include e-mail addresses of some of the Pakistan authorities. We encourage you to send your appeal letters via fax or post to them. Fax numbers and postal addresses of the Pakistan authorities are attached below […]

BURMA: Police inaction on rape and murder of schoolgirl

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has followed with concern reports that a group of soldiers raped and killed a teenage schoolgirl in the north of Burma. It has since obtained detailed information on the case and learned that although it was reported to the police so far no action has been taken […]

PAKISTAN: Three more women allegedly buried in same way as five women buried in Balochistan

[NOTICE: The AHRC has developed this automatic letter-sending system using the “button” below. However, in this appeal, we could not include e-mail addresses of some of the Pakistan authorities. We encourage you to send your appeal letters via fax or post to those people. Fax numbers and postal addresses of the Pakistan authorities are attached […]

INDIA: A girl kidnapped and forced into prostitution for two years but police do nothing

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has been informed by Guria, a local human rights organisation based in Varanasi, India that a female minor, Maya, was kidnapped and sold by human traffickers.  The girl was sold to the owner of a brothel, held captive, raped, forced to become a prostitute, and tortured with […]

SRI LANKA: A thorough investigation is required in the case of the rape of a minor

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that a minor was raped by two men respectively on different occasions in Sigiriya, Sri Lanka. It is reported that one of the accused had earlier bribed the police to prevent them from bringing his case to court.  Both were released on bail and […]

INDIA: A 13 year old girl is sexually assaulted but police fail to arrest the perpetrator

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has been informed by a local human rights organisation in Uttar Pradesh, the People’s Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR), that a 13-year-old girl was sexually assaulted by her neighbour.  In an attempt to rape the girl the accused entered their house and attacked her whilst she […]

INDIA: Fifteen-year-old girl abducted and sold while police did nothing

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information from Guria, a local human rights organisation in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh that a 15-year-old girl was abducted by human traffickers, and sold for sexual exploitation.  In the absence of any police assistance or investigation, the father of the child contacted Guria to rescue his […]

PAKISTAN: Murder of mother and daughter on the pretext of honour killing

[NOTICE: The AHRC has developed this automatic letter-sending system using the “button” below. However, in this appeal, we could not include e-mail addresses of some of the Pakistan authorities. We encourage you to send your appeal letters via fax or post to those people. Fax numbers and postal addresses of the Pakistan authorities are attached […]

GENERAL APPEAL (Pakistan): Four persons burned alive in hot coal tar while other abuses reported during military operation in Balochistan

[NOTICE: The AHRC has developed this automatic letter-sending system using the “button” below. However, in this appeal, we could not include e-mail addresses of some of the Pakistan authorities. We encourage you to send your appeal letters via fax or post to those people. Fax numbers and postal addresses of the Pakistan authorities are attached […]

PAKISTAN: Five women buried alive, allegedly by the brother of a minister

[NOTICE: The AHRC has developed this automatic letter-sending system using the “button” below. Please click the button for your participation. We also encourage you to send your appeal letters via fax or post to those people. Fax numbers and postal addresses of the Pakistan authorities are attached below with this appeal. Thank you.] Dear friends, The […]

UPDATE (India): Human rights activists in Varanasi facing continuous threat from women traffickers

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information from Guria, a local human rights organisation working on women trafficking in Uttar Pradesh regarding the death threats on human rights defenders associated with Guria. Four unknown persons allegedly engaged in human trafficking in Varanasi threatened to kill the activists associated with Guria. The […]

UPDATE (Pakistan/USA): Dr. Afia’s health is in serious condition and two of her children remain missing

[NOTICE: The AHRC has developed this automatic letter-sending system using the “button” below. Please click the button for your participation. We also encourage you to send your appeal letters via fax or post to those people. Fax numbers and postal addresses of the Pakistan authorities are attached below with this appeal. Thank you.] Dear friends, The […]

PHILIPPINES: Labour department’s complicity in unlawful acts deprives sexually abused workers from creating a union

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) writes to inform you that several union leaders and factory workers of a footwear company were illegally terminated when some of their female colleagues exposed their employer’s sexual abuse on them. Their termination had also effectively deprived them possibility from having their union legally recognized. As they […]

INDIA: Dalit girl raped and trafficked by village head in Gujarat

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information from Navsarjan, a human rights organisation working on Dalit rights in Gujarat, regarding the rape and subsequent trafficking of a 15-year-old Dalit girl. Four non-Dalit villagers, including a village head are accused of the crime. The victim though had filed a complaint to the […]