Right to health

SRI LANKA: Covid-19 & The Constitution

Arundhati Roy, prominent writer and social activist in India has written several important articles in the recent few days on the problem of the spread of Covid-19 and the vast numbers of deaths that are taking place in India. In an article written just a few days back, Roy directly addresses the Prime Minister of […]

BURMA/MYANMAR: Myanmar Situation Update (3 to 9 May 2021)

A Statement from ANFREL forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission Download the Full Statement Here The pro-democracy protests continued across the country in different townships despite the continuing lethal attacks by the junta forces and arrets of protests and the youth. The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) figures showed that as of 9 May, […]

INDIA: Where has all the COVID aid gone? The world demands accountability from India

Article | India | 07-05-2021

This article is part of the Anatomy of a pandemic series. Click here for the first part.) By Avinash Pandey The World sent India millions in Covid Aid. Why it is not reaching those who need it most screams the headline of a CNN report. A reporter in the daily press briefing of the United States’ Department of State raised […]

ASIA/WORLD: A New Publication – NEGLECT & LOSS

The link to the newsletter is as follows. Neglect and loss is a newsletter containing reports and commentaries on current problems in several Asian countries. The purpose of the newsletter is to highlight many forms of unnecessary human suffering imposed on ordinary people in these countries due to the neglect of authorities to carry out their […]

INDIA: COVID – 19 – When a family, in personal touch with the Prime Minister, pleads for justice: (In) Human tales of the pandemic

Statement | India | 06-05-2021

There are no dearth of horrible tales of blood and tears from India, the epicentre of the second wave of COVID-19. The country’s daily case load crossed 400,000 once while steadily hovering over 300,000 for almost 2 weeks with over 3,000 deaths for almost a week. This is despite the fact that there are serious […]

SOUTH ASIA: COVID -19 – South Asian Lives Matter

India is facing a massive threat to the lives of its people as evidenced from the ever growing number of corpses that are being scattered everywhere in the country. The crematoriums cannot keep up with the huge number of these corpses and everyone is talking about someone or the other that was known to them […]

INDIA: An Unprecedented humanitarian crisis

A Statement from Arundhati Roy & Barkha Dutt forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission The world is watching the highly disturbing situation the second wave of Covid pandemic has caused in India. It is not just an Indian crisis but a major humanitarian crisis that requires the attention of the whole world. We provide […]

BURMA/MYANMAR: Myanmar Situation Update

A Statement from ANFREL forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission Download the Full Statement Here The protests continued for the 12th week across the country despite the brutal crackdown. After a weeks- long absence, protesters returned to the streets in downtown Yangon ahead of the ASEAN Leaders’ Meeting. The media also reported that more than […]

INDIA: Anatomy of a Pandemic!

Article | India | 21-04-2021

By Avinash Pandey With over 2 lakh (two hundred thousand) new daily cases for almost a week, India is reeling under a second and far more lethal wave of COVID19 pandemic. India reported a record 2.94 lakh cases, second largest daily jump anywhere in the world on Tuesday, April 20, 2021 with a record 2,000 […]

SRI LANKA: Institutional theories about the use of torture

By Basil Fernando There are a number of entrenched beliefs which have become institutional doctrines within the policing system which contribute to the continuing practice of torture. No suspect will ever tell the truth. Therefore, it is better not to waste time asking questions before torturing the person. This is a practice almost invariably followed […]

SRI LANKA: Why do Sri Lankan Police officers torture suspects? Part II

By Basil Fernando “Police officer” refers mostly to persons working for the Sri Lanka Police Service. But in the context of custodial torture, it also includes others who at times are called upon to do Police-related duties such as conduct interrogations, similar to the military and other agencies. Another aspect, relevant to this discourse, generally […]

SRI LANKA: A Lunatic Police Attack

By Basil Fernando A brutal attack by Police Officers caught on a video tape has gone viral on social media. It has caused expressions of public dismay about the levels of violence that Sri Lankan Police practice. The video shows how a Police Officer jumps on the body of a fallen young driver and attacks […]

INDIA: जनता की असुविधा बनाम प्रतिरोध का अधिकार: क्या किसान जनता नहीं हैं

Article | India | 05-02-2021

भारत में एक नया जिन्न पैदा हुआ है- जनता की असुविधा का. कहीं कोई अपने हक़ के लिए सड़क पर उतरे तो ये जिन्न उसके सामने खड़ा कर दो. कभी कभी तो बंदूक वगैरह के साथ, गोली तक चलवा के. पर सबसे पहले पूछते हैं कि ये जनता क्या है? कौन है? किसान भी जनता […]

INDIA: The Bogey of Public Inconvenience to Snatch the Right To Protest

Article | India | 04-02-2021

Democracies across the world are defined by the virtue of the right to protest. Yet, in India, that fancies itself as the largest democracy of the world, the governments are seen to be chipping off that very right by raising the bogey of public inconvenience. They have mobilised people, mostly their party members, to even […]

INDIA: Farmers’ movement challenges the increasing authoritarianism

Article | India | 12-01-2021

Enraged Indian farmers are camping at the borders of national Capital Delhi for months in freezing cold after the Central Government passed three new farm bills ushering major agricultural reforms on 27th September 2020. Agrarian Community’s insecurities are aptly reflected in phased demonstrations to show collective disapproval by sloganeering such as,’Kisan Bacchao, Mandi Bacchao’ (Save the […]

SRI LANKA: A prison study by Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka

In November 2020, the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka published a report on their prison studies. This study conducted over a long period of time of two years was based on interviews with relevant persons. This included prisoners, prison guards, and all officers and persons connected with the work of prisons. This Study is excellent documentation […]

Vulnerability and Religious Minorities in Nepal – In the Context of Covid-19 Pandemic

The Asian Human Rights Commission wishes to inform you about a research report which was conducted and promoted by the Asian Human Rights Commission/Asian Legal Resource Centre and Samari Utthan Sewa (SUS). The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent the organizational views of the organizations. Please click here to download the Full Report In Nepali RESEARCH […]

SRI LANKA: A Criminal Justice System in Crisis

By Basil Fernando A constitutional crisis is not just a matter relating to a legal text. It influences all aspects of life and, in particular, the working of public institutions. The Prison Study carried out by the National Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) reflects the magnitude of the problems in the criminal justice […]

INDIA: Democracy detained even as COVID is on a free run

Statement | India | 10-12-2020

A Statement by the Asian Human Rights Commission on the occasion of Human Rights Day Covid has been a tragedy for 7 billion people, for the entire world. Or, perhaps, it has not been for a few. It has rather been a godsend for illiberal governments around the world. A study by Freedom House found, the condition […]

NEPAL: The Government of Nepal has been using the Covid-19 Pandemic to Exercise Control, to Commit Human Rights Violations and to Deny Justice to Victims of Human Rights Abuses

Statement | Nepal | 09-12-2020

A Statement by the Asian Human Rights Commission on the occasion of the international human rights day The Khadga Prasad (K.P.) Sharma Oli led Government has long been criticized for its response to the Covid-19 pandemic in Nepal. Despite the blanket lockdown imposed on the entire country since 24 March 2020 and the end of […]