International human rights mechanisms

SOUTH KOREA: Urgent action needed to address human rights abuses by businesses enterprises

The long struggle of a female worker has drawn the attention of both the local and international community. Ms. Kim Jin-suk, a member of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) has been occupying the cabin of Crane No. 85, which is 35 metres high, in the shipyard of Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction (HHIC) […]

SRI LANKA: Glaucon’s story about the ring of invisibility and J.R. Jawardene’s legacy

Basil Fernando  In Plato’s Republic Glaucon narrates a story about a ring of invisibility.  The man who found the ring used his power to enter the palace, rape the queen, kill the king and to take over the throne. ‘They’d have the scope I’m talking about especially if they acquired the kind of power which, […]

SRI LANKA: Dr. Chandre Dharma-Wardana admits to the publication of false and defamatory material and a death list

Yesterday we published an open letter relating to false and defamatory material which also amounted to the publication of a death list. Kindly see : SRI LANKA: AHRC tells the Canada-based Sri Lankan intellectual to stop distribution of false and defamatory material and a death list, at: http://www.humanrights.asia/news/ahrc-news/AHRC-OLT-001-2011. We have subsequently received replies from Dr. […]

SRI LANKA: New Year Wish List – 2011

We hope that wishing for a happy new year in Sri Lanka is not just mere wishful thinking. We wish: 1. That Rizana Nafeek, facing a death sentence in Saudi Arabia, will be released as soon as possible. This wish can become true only if the Sri Lankan government makes all the diplomatic efforts to […]

SRI LANKA: A Christmas appeal to President Rajapaksa to save Rizana Nafeek

An Open Letter to the President of Sri Lanka on the fate of Rizana Nafeek     Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksa   President Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka Presidential Secretariat Colombo-01 SRI LANKA   Tel: + 94 11 2447400 Fax: + +94 11 2423494 E-mail: secretary@presidentsoffice.lk       Your Excellency President Mahinda Rajapaksa:   SRI […]

SRI LANKA: Caritas prepares migrant workers for the worst

Dear friends, We wish to share with you the following statement from UCANEWS. Asian Human Rights Commission Hong Kong   ————- A Statement from UCANEWS forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission Posted By pramual On December 21, 2010 @ 3:29 pm In Analysis & Opinion, Countries, Daily Service, Sri Lanka   Hundreds of Sri […]

SOUTH KOREA: National human rights institution losing any trace of independence fast

An Open Letter to the International Coordinating Committee of National Institutions for Human Rights by the Asian Human Rights Commission   Rosslyn Noonan Chairperson International Coordinating Committee (ICC) Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights Attn. Mr. Vladlen Stefanov National Institutions Unit 8-14 Avenue de la Paix CH-1211 Geneva 10 SWITZERLAND Tel: + 41 […]

WORLD: Call for Action to support signature, ratification and implementation of the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) wishes to forward to you the following open letter from Steering Committee of the NGO Coalition for the OP-ICESCR to the governments of countries which have not ratified the Optional Protocol of International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. Asian Human Rights Commission Hong Kong ——- […]

THAILAND: International law and the limits of a state of emergency

The government of Thailand claims to be complying with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights in its application of the Emergency Decree on Public Administration in Emergency Situations, B.E. 2548 (2005) in response to the recent protests in Bangkok, which is today, 6 July 2010, coming up for renewal. The Asian Human Rights […]

SRI LANKA: Urgent Appeal to the government of Sri Lanka and the United Nations to prevent the escalation of violence

The common candidate for several opposition parties, retired general Sarath Fonseka, has made an appeal to the President of Sri Lanka to ensure security for him through the Inspector General of Police. This has been published through several media channels. The retired general has also stated that there is a plot to arrest and assassinate […]

CAMBODIA: The government should heed UN human rights recommendations

Very recently the Cambodian authorities spurned the recommendations made by the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights following its review of Cambodia’s implementation of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR). When asked about the recommendations, Cheam Yeap, a Member of Parliament from the ruling Cambodian People’s Party, who usually […]

SRI LANKA: United Nations Security Council press statement on Sri Lanka – SC/9659

We reproduce below the United Nations Security Council resolution of Sri Lanka on 13thMay 2009 which was published by the Department of Public Information – News and Media Division – New York The following Security Council press statement on Sri Lanka was read out today by Council President Vitaly Churkin (Russian Federation): The members of […]

BANGLADESH: Re-election to the Human Rights Council must be accompanied by significant improvement in human rights situation

On May 12, 2009, the United Nations General Assembly will hold elections to the UN Human Rights Council. Five seats will be available to the Asian region. Only five States from the region – Bangladesh, China, Jordan, Kyrgyzstan and Saudi Arabia – have announced their candidacy, meaning that they will be elected for three-year terms […]

CAMBODIA: Tolerance of corruption at the Khmer Rouge Tribunal is unacceptable

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) and the Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR) are very concerned that, on 3 April, the Office of the Co-Investigating Judges (OCIJ) at the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC), otherwise known as the Khmer Rouge Tribunal (KRT), rejected a request by the defence seeking disclosure of […]

CAMBODIA: Police allegedly extort bribes in arrest in Rattanakiri province

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has learned that the police allegedly ordered parents to pay a bribe of 150000 riels (US$37.5) each if their sons were not to be arrested after these youths had damaged a party sign in Soeung commune, Bor Keo district, Rattankiri province. On 2 July 2008, they arrested […]

INDIA: Initiate good precedents in the Universal Periodic Review

Statement | India | 07-04-2008

The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) has started the first session of its Universal Periodic Review (UPR) from yesterday. India is among the 16 states that will be reviewed during this session. The session will end on 18th April. India will be reviewed tomorrow. The review session is held in Geneva. The UPR is […]

UNITED KINGDOM/PAKISTAN: Two activists held in London face risk of torture if deported

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) writes to inform you that two activists from Pakistan arrested in London on 4 December 2007 may be threatened with deportation. They are being held and charged allegedly for conspiring to incite another person to commit acts of terrorism. Their friends and colleagues are worried that the […]

MYANMAR/BURMA: Myanmar’s neighbours would benefit from its political transformation

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is writing to you concerning the dramatic and rapidly worsening events in Myanmar of the last few weeks, about which you are fully aware. Many persons around the world maintain that Myanmar’s neighbours are largely responsible for the propping up of its military dictatorship, which but for the Association […]

SRI LANKA: Who bullies who?

Sri Lanka’s Deputy Solicitor General Savindra Fernando has been quoted in the local press as stating that Sri Lanka has often been bullied into signing United Nations (UN) conventions. He was speaking during celebrations of the 30th anniversary of the adoption of the Additional Protocol to the Geneva Convention. Such international instruments on human rights […]

UPDATE(Sri Lanka): Sri Lanka must ratify the Optional Protocol to the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has previously informed you through several appeals regarding the case of Ms. Rizana Nafeek who is facing the death sentence by beheading in Saudi Arabia and who has now succeed in filing an appeal before the Supreme Court in Saudi Arabia with the help of several financial […]