Migrant workers

INDONESIA: AHRC launches human rights report on the occasion of the International Human Rights Day

(Hong Kong, December 07, 2011) On the occasion of the upcoming International Human Rights Day on December 10, 2011, the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is launching its annual report on the State of Human Rights in Indonesia in 2011. The full report is available for download at http://www.humanrights.asia/resources/hrreport/2011/AHRC-SPR-006-2011/view. In the report, the AHRC witnessed a […]

NEPAL: Commitments to accountability and justice continue to be jeopardized in 2011

A Statement by the Asian Human Rights Commission on the Occasion of the International Human Rights Day, December 10, 2011 On the occasion of the 63rd Human Rights Day, the Asian Human Rights Commission is releasing its annual report on the state of human rights protection in Nepal through 2011. The report is available here. Given […]

INDONESIA: Human Rights in 2011 – The Decay of Pancasila and Constitutional Protections

A Statement by the Asian Human Rights Commission on the Occasion of the International Human Rights Day, December 10, 2011 On the occasion of the International Human Rights Day, December 10, 2011 the AHRC publishes its annual report on the State of Human Rights in Indonesia in 2011. The full report will be made available […]

INDONESIA: Save Tuti Tursilawati and other Indonesian migrant workers from the death penalty in Saudi Arabia

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, through his spokesperson Rupert Colville, issued a position statement in Geneva today, (October 12, 2011) concerning the death penalty in Saudi Arabia, after eight Bangladeshi migrant workers were executed (beheaded) there simultaneously. In 2011, at least 58 people, of whom 20 were migrant workers, including Ruyati, were […]

INDIA: Police force a child to gather severed human parts in Indore

Statement | India | 05-10-2011

A Joint Statement by Vikas Samvad and the Asian Human Rights Commission Despicable it might be, yet it is a relatively irrelevant incident in India. The latest is the case of Firoz, a 12-year-old boy who is now reportedly suffering from serious psychological trauma after being forced by a Head Constable of the Railway Protection […]

HONG KONG: The importance of ‘right of abode’ ruling

The importance of the ruling of Hong Kong’s Court of First Instance (Vallejos Evangeline b. v. Commissioner of Registration and Another), that held as unconstitutional, the exclusion of domestic workers to qualify as permanent residents, is beyond the debate of legality and constitutionality. The debate should also explore this question: why would a citizen of […]

SAUDI ARABIA/PHILIPPINES: Melanie Cordon serves out sentence as government turns its back

Dear friends,  Further to our last update, the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) deeply regrets to inform you that Melanie Cordon, a domestic worker convicted in absentia over a fabricated case, had chosen not to question her conviction but would rather to serve her sentence in prison in order to return home as soon as […]

SAUDI ARABIA/PHILIPPINES: Melanie Cordon case – ‘serve jail term rather than question your conviction’

Dear friends,  Further to our previous appeal, we have learned that Melanie Cordon, a domestic worker convicted in absentia, was told by a government representative that serving her jail term would be more convenient for her than questioning her conviction. The representative, however, is obviously not familiar with her case; and could not provide her […]

SAUDI ARABIA/PHILIPPINES: Melanie Cordon case – government’s neglect & inability to act promptly

Dear friends,  The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that Melanie Cordon, a domestic worker convicted in absentia, has been neglected by the government agencies that have the legal obligation to provide her with assistance.  UPDATED INFORMATION:  On September 14, we reported that Melanie Cordon was convicted for four months over fabricated charges […]

SRI LANKA/JORDAN: Sri Lankan migrant woman imprisoned in Jordan due to inadequate legal assistance

Dear friends,  The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that Ms. Kande Shriyani (33) of Sri Darmadara Mawatha, Godaudawatha, Hegoda, Rathgama in the district of Galle migrated to Jordan on 6 September 2006. She went to work as a machine operator at the Ivory Garment Factory, Sahab, Jordan. After facing enormous difficulties she […]

SAUDI ARABIA/PHILIPPINES: Falsely charged domestic worker convicted in trial in absentia

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) writes to inform you that a Filipina domestic worker, who was falsely charged for theft, was convicted in trial in absentia. She is presently detained to serve her prison term in Saudi Arabia. She was deprived of any opportunity to defend her case. CASE DETAILS: Ms. Melanie […]

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/SAUDI ARABIA: New revelations on the case of Rizana Nafeek who is facing the death sentence in Saudi Arabia — GOSL should initiate an inquiry into the scandalous conduct of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Embassy Staff in Saudi Arabia

We reproduce below the translation of the affidavit written by Rizana Nafeek on January 30, 2007 which was published by the Asian Tribune today. This affidavit gives, for the first time, her version of events relating to the death of a four-month-old infant who she was bottle feeding. She was later charged with murdering the […]

MALAYSIA: Stop legal action against Malaysian human rights defender for highlighting rights of migrant workers

Dear friends, We wish to share with you the following joint statement from Human Rights Now and FORUM-ASIA. Asian Human Rights Commission Hong Kong ————- A Joint Statement from Human Rights Now and FORUM-ASIA forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission MALAYSIA: Stop legal action against Malaysian human rights defender for highlighting rights of migrant […]

MALAYSIA: Human rights lawyer sued for libel for blogging alleged violations of migrant workers rights

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) regrets to inform you that the Asahi Kosei (M) Sdn. Bhd. Company, a firm whom we earlier reported to have threatened to commence legal action against a human rights lawyer, Mr. Charles Hector Fernandez, for blogging about alleged violations of the migrant workers rights the company has […]

MALAYSIA: A human rights lawyer and public interest advocate faces threats of legal action for blogging about a company allegedly violating rights of migrant workers

Dear friends,  The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has learned that Mr. Charles Hector Fernandez, a human rights defender and lawyer, is facing threats of legal action by Asahi Kosei (M) Sdn. Bhd. Company, a company employing migrant workers. The Company claimed that Mr. Fernandez posts on the plight of Burmese migrant workers were libelous. […]

BANGLADESH/SOUTH KOREA: Rights group exposes Korean employers’ atrocities on workers with direct participation of Bangladeshi agencies

Dear friends, We wish to share with you the following statement from Korean House for International Solidarity. For further information, the following person can be contacted on this regard: Mr. Na Hyun-Pil Korean House for International Solidarity (KHIS) Address: 2/F, 184-2, Pilwun-dong, Jongro-gu, Seoul 110-044, Republic of Korea Tel: +82 2-736-5808 or 5809 Fax: +82 […]

SAUDI ARABIA/SRI LANKA: Government ineffective on violence against migrant women

Dear friends, We wish to share with you the following article from AsiaNews. Asian Human Rights Commission Hong Kong ————- An article from AsiaNews forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission SAUDI ARABIA/SRI LANKA: Government ineffective on violence against migrant women by Melani Manel Perera Age raised from 18 to 21 years. But some religious […]

THAILAND: Rights groups to take case of Myanmar migrant work accident Victim chained to hospital bed to Labour Ministry demanding urgent systems review

Dear friends, We wish to share with you the following joint statement from Thai Labour Solidarity Committee (TLSC), State Enterprise Workers Relations Confederation (SERC), Council of Work and Environment Related Patient’s Network of Thailand (WEPT) and Human Rights and Development Foundation (HRDF). Asian Human Rights Commission Hong Kong ————- For Immediate Release: 6th February 2011 […]

THAILAND: Rights Groups to Request Thai National Police Chief to Unchain Injured Migrant Work Accident Victim from Myanmar Detained Pending Deportation

A Statement from Human Rights and Development Foundation (HRDF) forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission TO ALL NEWS MEDIA/EDITORS and NETWORKS: FOR URGENT LETTER SUBMISSION AT 230PM to CHIEF OF ROYAL THAI POLICE FORCE at ROYAL THAI POLICE HEADQUARTERS opposite Siam Paragon shopping centre in Central Bangkok. ———- For Immediate Release: 3rd February 2011 Rights Groups […]