Judicial system

BANGLADESH: Torture survivors and relatives of custodial murders share their gruesome experiences in People’s Tribunal

A Joint Statement by the Asian Human Rights Commission and Odhikar A survivor of torture, relatives of a survivor and of two victims of death, who were tortured to death in police custody, have shared their gruesome experiences in a People’s Tribunal today, June 26, 2013, in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Bangladeshi human rights group Odhikar, in collaboration with the […]

PAKISTAN: the AHRC condemns the Taliban bomb attack on the acting Chief Justice of Sindh

The acting Chief Justice of Sindh provincial High Court, Justice Maqbool Baqar, was attacked and seriously injured this morning in a bomb blast by the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). The convoy of the senior judge was passing through a crowded market place in Karachi, the capital of Sindh province. Nine persons were killed and fifteen were […]

PAKISTAN: Civil Society urges Govt. enact law to end Torture

International Day in support of Torture victims Rights-based organizations, HR defenders vow to synergies efforts to combat Torture LAHORE:(26th June 2013):“The large scale instances of torture in custody is a common practice in Pakistan and there is no law in the country to stop this menace. The Parliament of Pakistan should enact law for criminalization of torture. Govt. […]

INDONESIA: Special report on practice of torture in Indonesia released

(Hong Kong/Padang, Indonesia, June 26, 2013) To mark the UN International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, the Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC) released an advance version of its special report on practice of torture in Indonesia today. The report titled: “A facade of justice for torture victims in Indonesia”, is the first special […]

PAKISTAN: A Christian lawyer has been threatened with dire consequences for assisting three Christian women, who were stripped naked and paraded on the street

A Christian lawyer has been threatened with dire consequences if he continues to provide legal assistance to three Christian women who were stripped naked and paraded on the street by the henchmen of ruling party.  Mr. Mushtaq Gill, the director of LEAD (Legal Evangelical Association Development) organization, is getting death threats from militants. He is […]

INDIA: The pain of progress

The United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture observed around the world on June 26 serves as a sober reminder of the reality that this ugly side of humanity is still very much alive in our contemporary and supposedly civilized society. It is a reality that is even harder to grapple with […]

INDIA: क़ानून के हकदारों को योजना का हितग्राही बनाने की कवायद (मनरेगा 5)

मध्य प्रदेश में देरी से हुए भुगतान की कुल राशियाँ जिले का नाम वर्ष (राशि करोड़ रूपए में)   2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 (जनवरी’13) अलीराजपुर 27.65 23.66 13.68 बडवानी 88.44 51.51 31.92 खंडवा 45.01 43.44 27.58 खरगोन 71.52 68.59 31.31 शिवपुरी 35.63 32.21 18.66 डिंडोरी 49.91 52.93 41.63 बालाघाट 70.12 73.97 52.32 श्योपुर 25.78 19.38 11.34 […]

PAKISTAN: Every day, at least one person undergoes physical torture in each police station in the country

Every year, people around the world observe the UN International Day in Support of Torture Victims (generally referred to as the Anti-Torture Day) to reassert that torture must be eliminated. In Pakistan, too, people observe the day in support of torture victims and hold widespread discussions about criminalising torture. Pakistan has ratified the UN-CAT and […]

BANGLADESH: Torture-friendly & Corrupt Policing Needs Urgent Reform

An Open Letter by the Asian Human Rights Commission to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Ms. Navy Pillay on the occasion of UN International Day In Support of Victims of Torture Ms. Navanethem Pillay United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights OHCHR-UNOG 8-14 Avenue de la Paix 1211 Geneva 10 SWITZERLAND Fax: +41 […]

CAMBODIA: Rights to Justice and Rehabilitation of Tortured Victims

A Joint Statement by the Asian Human Rights Commission, the Cambodian Human Rights Action Committee (CHRAC), the Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association (ADHOC), Transcultural Psychosocial Organization Cambodia (TPO) and the Dignity-Danish Institute Against Torture on the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture (Click here for Khmer version) As part of their concerted attempt to combat […]

NEPAL: Bringing the eradication of torture back on the political agenda

A Statement by the Asian Human Rights Commission on the occasion of the International day in support of victims of torture. On the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) wishes to express its solidarity with the survivors who are still dealing with the consequences of the torture […]

SRI LANKA: Siridhamma College teacher severely beat a student

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that Bewantha Udeep Abeysiriwardena Wijesinghe, a 15 year old student of Siridhamma College of Galle, was brutally beaten by his teacher of the school Mr. S.V. Gamini. Bewantha was briefly hospitalised and his father, Mr. D.D. Abysiriwardene, made a complaint with the Akmeemana Police […]

THAILAND: Pitsanuloke Administrative Court orders Mae Sot Municipality to provide 750,000 baht as compensation for the death of a migrant workers’ child

For immediate release on 20 June 2013 Press Release Pitsanuloke Administrative Court orders Mae Sot Municipality to provide 750,000 baht as compensation for the death of a migrant workers’ child On 19 June 2013, the Pitsanuloke Administrative Court, Pitsanuloke Province, ruled in the case between Ms. Ma Maw Di Yan, aka “Juju”, the procurator of Zamira, aka […]

PAKISTAN: Anti-torture day will be observed in Karachi, Lahore and other parts of the country

The UN International Day in Support of Torture Victims will be observed in Pakistan with a pledge to struggle to eliminate torture from society. Two seminars will be held on this occasion, as well as demonstrations against torture committed by law enforcement agencies, including the armed forces. Human rights activists will urge the government to […]

SRI LANKA: A young girl was denied justice by the Peradeniya Police

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information concerning the attack on Ms. Ashcharya Tashini Iddamalgoda. Ashcharya (13) is a brilliant student with a pleasant personality. When she rebuffed the advances of a male student she was attacked during a school interval. Despite the hospital records showing that her injury was the […]

INDIA: Gorakhpur – the killing fields where only thing worse than death is survival

Article | India | 21-06-2013

In India, death has a myriad ways to prey on hapless children and sniff the life out of them. Often, it has rather trustworthy accomplices: the union and state governments. Take but one way it strikes, killing more than a thousand each year. Since 1978, when it first struck, it has never failed to collect […]

PHILIPPINES: Manila mayor tortures rape suspect in full view of the public

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is demanding an explanation as to why the police did nothing to prevent Manila Mayor, Alfredo Lim, from interrogating and torturing a rape suspect in full view of the public. In this report by the GMA News, about five policemen in uniform, including a senior police officer, were present in front […]

ASIA: Applying for The May 18 Academy 2013

The Asian Human Rights Commission wishes to forward to you the announcement from the May 18 Memorial Foundation, Gwangju, South Korea regarding applications for the May 18 Academy 2013. The detailed information as well as downloading of the application form can be found at here. ——————– The May 18 Academy is an education/training program for domestic/international […]

INDIA: Information is power

There is an ongoing debate about the Right to Information (RTI) Act in India, and the proposed amendments to the scope and extent of that legislation. It is tempting to express one’s sentiments for or against it but the RTI debate is a layered discussion, which requires sensitivity to the nuances it involves. To break […]

SRI LANKA: An Update on the case of torture of the interior decorator Madawala Maddumage Don Aruna Nilupul Indika

Last week the Asian Human Rights Commission reported the incident of the torture of a well-known interior decorator, Mr. Madawala Maddumage Don Aruna Nilupul Indika (39), of Mahagedara, Devala Road, Welipenna in the Kalutara District, by several police officers of the Mataguma Police Station. The officer who played the most active role in Nilupul’s arrest […]