Forwarded Statement

BURMA/MYANMAR: Myanmar Situation Update

A Statement from ANFREL forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission Download the Full Statement Here The protests continued for the 12th week across the country despite the brutal crackdown. After a weeks- long absence, protesters returned to the streets in downtown Yangon ahead of the ASEAN Leaders’ Meeting. The media also reported that more than […]

ASIA: Extremist religious groups create dangerous fault-lines within communities in Asia, observe panellists of CCA’s virtual conference

A Statement from the Christian Conference of Asia forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission CHIANG MAI: A virtual conference on ‘The Impact of Growing Religious Extremism on Women in Asia’ organised by the Christian Conference of Asia (CCA) observed, “The menace of religious extremism and intolerance has once again reared its ugly head as […]

SRI LANKA: Human Rights Commission’s recommendations regarding Mahara Prison shootings

A Statement from The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission We reproduce below a statement issued by the National Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka on the Mahara Prison shooting on 29 November 2020. Click hereto see the statement.

ASIA: Release the Friend of the Indigenous People – Fr Stan Swamy An Appeal by the Federation of Asian Bishops Conference (FABC)

Click here to see the original statement It is with great shock and agony, the FABC heard of the arrest of the 83- year-old Fr Stan Swamy and his incarceration. We are surprised at the charges brought against him. We stand in solidarity with Fr. Stan Swamy and all who support the rights of the indigenous people. […]

ASIA: Wider partnerships and systemic efforts at grassroots are essential to combat trafficking in women and girls in Asia

CHIANG MAI, THAILAND: The virtual conference organised and facilitated by the Christian Conference of Asia (CCA) entitled ‘Towards Wider Partnerships for Combatting Trafficking in Women and Girls amidst COVID-19’ called for systemic change supplemented with grassroots efforts to tackle the menace of human trafficking. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the difficulties of identification and rescue […]

SRI LANKA: Statement on The 20th Amendment to the Constitution of Sri Lanka

We, the undersigned organisations, are deeply concerned about the impact the Sri Lanka 20th Constitutional Amendment Bill (the ‘Amendment Bill’) issued on 2 September 2020 would have on the independence and impartiality of the judiciary, if adopted. Of particular concern are the amendments proposed relating to the Judiciary and to the Judicial Services Commission. The […]

THAILAND: Support for Thailand Democratization Protests

Click here to see the original Statement The May 18 Memorial Foundation expresses solidarity with the young protesters in Thailand. We respect their peaceful call for greater democracy. However, the Thai government, which has disbanded the pro-democracy party (FFP) early this year, is suppressing the peaceful demonstrators’ rights by arresting and intimidating them. These young advocates […]

WORLD: Pope’s September prayer intention is for the planet’s resources

Let us pray that the planet’s resources will not be plundered, but shared in a just and respectful manner Vatican City September 1, 2020 Pope Francis, in his prayer intention for the month of September 2020, asks everyone to pray that we learn to respect the planet’s resources. It has become the custom of Pope […]

PHILIPPINES: Anti-Terrorism Act is reminiscent of the dark history of martial law era, says CCA General Secretary

The Philippines’ new ‘Anti-Terrorism Act’, which took effect on Saturday, 18 July 2020, is reminiscent of the use of repressive force and human rights violations of the dark history of martial law era, stated the General Secretary of the Christian Conference of Asia (CCA), Dr Mathews George Chunakara. In a statement released on behalf of […]

THAILAND: Government should commit towards locating missing activist and protecting human rights defenders

(Jakarta, 17 June 2020) – The Thai government’s inadequate response to the enforced disappearance of pro-democracy activist Wanchalerm Satsaksit demonstrates its failure to protect human rights defenders and other dissenting voices, Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) and Asia Democracy Network said today. Unidentified assailants abducted Wanchalerm in front of his residence in […]

CAMBODIA: Civil Society Organizations call for the Royal Government of Cambodia to Amend the State of Emergency Law to Protect Human Rights

Phnom Penh, 13 May 2020 – Without urgent and substantial amendment, the new Law on the Management of the Nation in State of Emergency (“State of Emergency Law”) grants the Royal Government of Cambodia (“RGC”) powers to restrict the fundamental freedoms of the Cambodian people without limit. The recently promulgated State of Emergency Law was impulsively […]

CAMBODIA: Suspend MFI Debts and Return Land Titles Amid Covid-19 Pandemic

The suffering of millions of Cambodians who are facing economic hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic is being amplified by the country’s ongoing over-indebtedness crisis, stemming from more than $10 billion in loans from aggressive microfinance institutions (MFIs). More than two and a half million Cambodians currently hold microloans, with an average loan of more […]

THAILAND: Drop Criminal Complaint Against Fortify Rights Senior Human Rights Specialist Puttanee Kangkun

Thai authorities or Thai poultry company Thammakaset Company Limited should immediately drop criminal defamation complaints against Puttanee Kangkun and other human rights defenders, Fortify Rights said today. On December 6, Thammakaset filed a complaint against Puttanee with the Bangkok Southern Criminal Court for 14 social media engagements expressing support for human rights defenders. Puttanee is […]

THAILAND: CONTEMPT OF COURT over critics of decision on MP’s media shareholding

A Statement from Thai Lawyers for Human Rights forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission Case Between the Election Cases Division of the Supreme Court and Sarinee Achavanuntakul, Thai academic                                                    […]

HONG KONG: The Statement of the Hong Kong Legal Profession香港法律界的聲明

On the night of July 21 in Yuen Long, we witnessed the most serious attack on the law and order in Hong Kong and civil liberties of the Hong Kong people in recent decades. A civilised society will not condone what happened to ordinary citizens of Hong Kong who had been subjected to organised violence […]

THAILAND: Military authorities can still arbitrarily detain civilians

A Statement from Thai Lawyers for Human Rights forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission   Analysis of the Head of the NCPO Order no. 9/2562 that repealed some Announcements/Orders that are no longer necessary Click here to read the Original Statement On 9 July 2019, Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha in his capacity as the Head of […]

CAMBODIA: Three years and still no effective investigation into Dr. Kem Ley’s killing

A Joint Statement from The Cambodian Center for Human Rights forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission 9 July 2019 (Bangkok, Thailand) — Today, on the third anniversary of the killing of prominent political commentator and human rights defender Kem Ley, the 24 undersigned organizations renew calls on the Cambodian government to establish an independent and impartial […]

THAILAND: The Attacks of Political Activists

A Statement from The Thai Lawyers for Human Rights forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission 4 June 2019 In pursuance to a string of recent attacks of at least three pro-democracy activists including Aekachai Hongkangwan who was physically assaulted seven times and had his car set on fire twice since early 2018, and of […]

WORLD: “Chauvinistic nationalism is the polar opposite of the UN, its very antonym and enemy.” – Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights

A Statement from United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission Opening statement and global update of human rights concerns by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein at 38th session of the Human Rights Council 18 June 2018 Mr. President, Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates, Colleagues and […]

BANGLADESH: Killings of suspected “drug offenders” in Bangladesh must stop – UN Human Rights Chief

A Statement from the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission GENEVA (6 June 2018) – UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein on Wednesday condemned the alleged extra-judicial killings of suspected drug offenders in Bangladesh and urged the authorities to ensure […]