Press Release

INDONESIA: Police are still at the Konawe Islands Regency and residents are frightened

(Hong Kong, March 25, 2022) The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information from local network about police are still at the Konawe Islands Regency. After Gema Kreasi Perdana Company grabbed the land of residents who objected to mine on Tuesday (1/03) and last Thursday, (3/03), the Konawe Islands Regency Government through its Deputy […]

INDONESIA: Dozens of International Human Rights Organizations Encourage the Protection of Human Rights Defenders in Indonesia

Hong Kong, 12 October, 2021 The Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC), the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), the World Organization Against Torture (OMCT), the Frontline Defenders, the Business and Human Rights Resource Centre (BHRRC), the International Network of Civil Liberties Organizations (INCLO), the CIVICUS, the Capital Punishment Justice Project (CPJP), and the Franciscans International […]

NEPAL: Myanmar’s Military Coup- A Serious Blow to Democracy

(Hong Kong, February 1, 2021) The community of civil society in Nepal expresses grave concern over the seizing of power by Myanmar’s military on 1 February, in a coup in the aftermath of the democratic elections held in November 2020. The army has claimed that the response was a result of the “election fraud” which […]

NEPAL: An Appeal from Ganga Maya Adhikari: Demanding Justice for my Son and Husband

(Hong Kong, September 21, 2020) Dear All, First of all, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude for standing along with me throughout all these years in my battle for truth and justice for the murder of my son. On the 6th anniversary of my husband’s death (22 September 2014), I pay tribute to […]

SRI LANKA: An interview on crisis of Law with Mr. Basil Fernando

(Colombo Sri Lanka, August 09, 2019) We are sharing an interview with Mr. Basil Fernando in the National Television Station (Rupavahini) regarding the Crisis of Law in Sri Lanka in their 99 Minutes Program.       Please Click here See the Full Interview

WORLD: The launching of a new journal, SDG 16

Hong Kong, July 30, 2019 The journal with focus on the SDG 16 in particular which is “Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels.” One of the targets of the SDG 16 is the achievement of rule of law. SDG 16 poses a serious challenges […]

SRI LANKA: Launching of a new book in Sinhala titled Neethiya and Vinaya (Law and Discipline).

Hong Kong, July 28, 2019  Launching of a new book.  Neethiya and Vinaya (Law and discipline) By Basil Fernando Publisher: Wijaysooriya Publishers, 98 pages. The AHRC announces the publication of a new book in Sinhala titled Neethiya and Vinaya (Law and Discipline). The book deals with political science theories and legal theories relating to the state duties for […]

SOUTH KOREA: Gwangju 2019 Human Rights Awards Ceremony and the People’s Forum on State Violence

Gwangju, May 21, 2019 On the May 18th, at the Gwangju city, the May 18 Memorial Foundation held the annual human rights award ceremony followed by people’s forum “Genocide and Refugee: State Violence and State Responsibility to Protect Its People”, on 18 and 19 May. The photos and documents relating to this event are now […]

NEPAL: Proposed new social media law in Nepal threatens freedom of expression

A Joint media release by the Asian Human Rights Commission and CIVICUS • A new broad and restrictive law being introduced by the Nepalese government gives the authorities sweeping powers to block social media platforms and remove or criminalise defamatory posts • The government has also tabled legislation that restricts civil servants from sharing their […]

PHILIPPINES: Duterte regime’s proscription petition targets critics, rights defenders

Karapatan condemns the listing of more than 600 persons, human rights defenders and critics of the Duterte government in the proscription petition filed by the Department of Justice (DOJ), through Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Peter Ong, at a regional court in Manila on February 21, 2018. The petition not only seeks to declare the Communist […]

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 […]

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 […]

NEPAL: Hong Kong based Nepalese investigative journalist manhandled and threatened

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that a Hong Kong based Nepali investigative journalist and NepalKhabar Hong Kong Editor, Mr. JB Pun Magar, has been attacked and threatened for writing on issues relating to the Nepalese community residing in Hong Kong. Mr. Komal Gurung (Thapa), a Hong Kong based businessperson has been targeting JB […]

WORLD: A New Book – Torture: as an entrenched part of Cruel, Inhuman & Degrading Legal Systems

A Study on the use of torture as a routine part of criminal investigations in developing countries; lessons from the situation in Sri Lanka Basil Fernando The Asian Human Rights Commission is happy to present its latest publication which is now available in print and as an e-book. The book is based on over 20 […]

PAKISTAN: Activists must stand up to enforced silence in Pakistan

At the 34th session of the United Nations, on 13 March 2017, the AIPD and UKPNP held a joint Parallel Side Event. Mr. Baseer Naweed, Senior Researcher at the Pakistan Desk of the Asian Human Rights Commission, made the following speech during the Side Event: The freedom of expression was never granted, in spirit, to […]

WORLD: New challenges are emerging in Torture Prevention – In the Latest Issue of Torture Magazine

“74% of psychology students had received less than one hour of instruction about military medical ethics and most gave incorrect answers when tested on specific instances in which the Geneva Conventions apply, about when military personnel are expected to disobey unethical orders from superiors, or about how prisoners are to be treated,” J. Wesley Boyd […]

WORLD: Pride and Pain in Difficult Times: Selected Poems by Basil Fernando

Global Human Rights Activist, Basil Fernando, Pens Poetry Collection Chronicling Sri Lankan Civil War New York, NY. February 11, 2017 – Belle Marquise Books has released Pride and Pain in Difficult Times: Selected Poems by Basil Fernando, a collection of verse that bears witness to one of the most harrowing clashes in South Asian history. Fernando, recipient of […]

SRI LANKA: “Though heavens fall let justice prevail”: An Interview with Basil Fernando on TV1 Newsline

Mr Basil Fernando, Director of Policy and Programmes of the Asian Human Rights Commission in Hong Kong speaks with Mr Faraz Shauketaly, Host of the News First – TV1’s “Newsline” programme on 05th January 2017 – on the proposed national reconciliation process; the recommendations of the United Nations for a domestic-international hybrid court inclusive of foreign judges – […]

BANGLADESH: Mahmudur Rahman should be allowed to travel for medical treatment

BANGLADESH: Mahmudur Rahman should be allowed to travel for medical treatment Paris-Geneva-Hong-Kong, December 24, 2016 – Bangladesh’s Supreme Court has so far refused to grant journalist Mahmudur Rahman, recently released from 1,322 days in arbitrary detention, the right to travel abroad for urgent surgery, despite the serious risk of irreversible neurological damage he faces. The Observatory […]

SRI LANKA: AG asked to appeal from a Judgement of the Puttalam High Court as the decision amounts to a miscarriage of justice

[December 8, 2016] On September 2003 a 15 years old boy complained of torture by officers of the Saliyawewa Police Station alleging that officers made him sit on ant hill, for about 20 minutes and thereafter was hung from a beam with his hands tied behind his back with a rope, and beaten him accusing him […]