Press Release

Introduction Many of the essays published in this booklet were initially published in several publications, such as Ceylon Independent, The Nation, and Colombo Telegraph. All these articles are linked to a common theme, which is the need for recognising that the legal system in Sri Lanka, and in particular the criminal justice system, is facing the threat […]

The ‘Trikone’ Foundation has issued a video of a speech by Mr Basil Fernando, Director of Policy and Programmes, on the Emperor Asoka’s contribution to the Sri Lankan culture and the crisis of culture in the contemporary Sri Lankan society. This was speech delivered at ‘Trikone’ and was very much appreciated by the audience. In this speech […]

(Hong Kong, 3 June 2016) The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC)’s bi-monthly magazine, article 2, has produced a special edition on “The state of freedom of expression in Pakistan”. The report covers details about the country’s fragile situation of freedom of expression and speech. It includes articles by professors, religious scholars, writers and activists. Interestingly, the […]

Members of families of 19 disappeared victims once again took to the street, yesterday, 26 May 2016. They formed a “human chain” in front of the National Press Club in Dhaka to demand the return of their loved ones within the month of Ramadan. Prominent human rights defenders, members of the civil society, and academic […]

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) and Terai Human Rights Defenders Alliance (‘the THRD Alliance’) published today a report on the anti-Constitution protests from August 16, 2015 to February 5, 2016 in which over 40 people died. The report focuses on the use of force by the Government of Nepal against protestors and bystanders. Based […]

May 17, 2016 Share| We are pleased to release a short video of Mr Basil Fernando reciting his poem“Looking for Raju” which is among the 15 winning poems selected by Amnesty International in their poetry competition “ Silenced Shadows” regarding forced disappearances. On 14th May 2016, the Amnesty International announced and made available these 15 poems, 05 each […]

( Hong Kong , 3 May 2016) “Conflict in Kashmir is the root cause of the problem. It has made the life, property, dignity and chastity of Kashmiri women insecure. With a revival of militancy this scenario of insecurity is increasing day by day,” notes Dr Sheikh Showkat Hussain, the Head and Dean of the Department of Law, School of […]

We are sharing with you a discussion conducted between Dr. U C P Perera, Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Medicine, and Head, Department of Forensic Medicine, University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka, who has also been involved in the investigations into the Chemmanimass grave, and Mr. Basil Fernando, Director Policy and Programmes, Asian Human Rights Commission, Hong […]

After decades of engagement across Asia, and in particular, in Sri Lanka and other South Asian countries, seeking to learn about and confront the most fundamental problems plaguing our societies, the Asian Human Rights Commission has arrived at a juncture where both the root malady can be diagnosed and ways forward for society can be […]

Twelve years after the disappearance of Somchai Neelaphaijit, the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) calls upon the Thai authorities to begin a new investigation into Somchai’s case, and to ratify the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance. Somchai Neelaphaijit was a noted a lawyer and human rights defender in Thailand. […]

One year after the assassination of human rights defender Mr. Chai Boontonglek, a member of the Southern Peasants’ Federation of Thailand (SPFT), the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has learned about persistent impunity in human rights murder cases. On February 11, the AHRC received information from Human Rights Lawyers Association (HRLA) and Protection International Thailand […]

A group of human rights defenders in Northeast Thailand has been forced into a frivolous and damaging case in court, due to their attempts to protect community resources against a gold mining operation. According to Thailand’s Rights Coalition, Protection International, and theCommunity Resource Centre, TungkhumLimited is seeking 50 million Baht (around USD $1.4 million) in […]

Do you know someone ordinary achieving the extraordinary? Less than one month left to nominate candidates for the 2016 Right Livelihood Award. March 1 is the deadline for proposals for this year’s Right Livelihood Award, widely known as the ‘Alternative Nobel Prize’. Presented in the Swedish Parliament in Stockholm, the Right Livelihood Awards honour and […]

( Hong Kong , 08 February 2016)“His judgement in the Indira Gandhi case in 1975 was controversial, and earned him both accolades and criticism. Krishna Iyer’s judgement snowballed the political crisis leading to the imposition of the emergency,”  Justice G.S. Singhvi, Former Judge, Supreme Court of India noted in his summary of one of the […]

Hong Kong, 03 February 2016 Geneva-Paris-Hong Kong, February 3, 2016. The authorities of Bangladesh should immediately release journalist Mahmudur Rahman, who completed 1,000 days in custody without trial on January 6, 2016 as part of the Government’s efforts to stifle critical voices in the country, the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders (a […]

(Hong Kong, 4 December, 2015) “The surviving, present day youth in Northern Sri Lanka face a grim future. Society is just recovering from three decades of devastating civil war. In the current post war context, the future of the community depends on rebuilding broken social structures in which youth can play a crucial role”, writes Dr. […]

A Joint Press Release by the Asian Legal Resource Centre and Transcultural Psychosocial Organization (TPO Nepal) The Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC) and the Transcultural Psychosocial Organization (TPO Nepal) have prepared this report in relation to the upcoming second cycle of Universal Periodic Review (UPR) to be held on 4 November 2015. It presents the […]

A Joint Press Release by Advocacy Forum – Nepal (AFN), the Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC), REDRESS and the World Organisation against Torture (OMCT). Geneva/Hong Kong, 3 November 2016. Advocacy Forum-Nepal (AFN), the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC), REDRESS and the World Organisation against Torture (OMCT) made a stakeholder submission to the Universal Periodic Review […]

(Hong Kong, October 02, 2015) The 4th Asian Alliance against Torture and Ill-treatment & for Fair Trial – Conference of Asian Parliamentarians will be held from 5 to 7 October, 2015 in Hong Kong. The 4th conference will seek means to advance the agreement arrived at during the past three conferences, to further seek political […]