Women's rights

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 […]

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 […]

SRI LANKA: AHRC Writes to Cardinal Malcolm Ranjit On Dignity of Women Prisoners

A Letter from the Asian Human Rights Commission to His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith Archbishop’s House, Borella, Colombo 08, Sri Lanka Fax: 0094-11-2692009 absecretariat@sltnet.lk,absecretariate@gmail.com December 22, 2020 Dear Cardinal Ranjith, On behalf of the Asian Human Rights Commission, I write to make a request for you to make a special […]

ASIA: Extremist religious groups create dangerous fault-lines within communities in Asia, observe panellists of CCA’s virtual conference

A Statement from the Christian Conference of Asia forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission CHIANG MAI: A virtual conference on ‘The Impact of Growing Religious Extremism on Women in Asia’ organised by the Christian Conference of Asia (CCA) observed, “The menace of religious extremism and intolerance has once again reared its ugly head as […]

BANGLADESH: Violence against women on the rise amid COVID-19 and rampant impunity

A Joint Statement by the Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances, Asian Human Rights Commission, International Federation for Human Rights and Odhikar on the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women 2020 Dhaka/ Hong Kong/ Manila/Paris, 24 November 2020: November 25 marks the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. Since […]

ASIA: Wider partnerships and systemic efforts at grassroots are essential to combat trafficking in women and girls in Asia

CHIANG MAI, THAILAND: The virtual conference organised and facilitated by the Christian Conference of Asia (CCA) entitled ‘Towards Wider Partnerships for Combatting Trafficking in Women and Girls amidst COVID-19’ called for systemic change supplemented with grassroots efforts to tackle the menace of human trafficking. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the difficulties of identification and rescue […]

NEPAL: An Appeal from Ganga Maya Adhikari: Demanding Justice for my Son and Husband

(Hong Kong, September 21, 2020) Dear All, First of all, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude for standing along with me throughout all these years in my battle for truth and justice for the murder of my son. On the 6th anniversary of my husband’s death (22 September 2014), I pay tribute to […]

NEPAL: Citizens’ Call to the Government to be Sensitive on Ganga Maya Adhikari’s Health

Statement | Nepal | 13-09-2020

When the main building of Bir Hospital has been designated as the dedicated hospital for the treatment of COVID-19 patients, it has come to our serious attention that Satyagrahi Ganga Maya Adhikari’s health is at high risk, as she has not been transferred to other safer place, and is still being kept at the hospital […]

BANGLADESH: Surge of Arbitrary Detention under Digital Security Act Leads to Deepening Crisis

It is well-known that systemic abuse of draconian Laws is an established practice in Bangladesh. The incumbent Government has weaponised a number laws, including the Digital Security Act-2018, to intensify its campaign of curbing freedom of expression and opinion. The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has compiled publicly available information obtained from the mainstream media. The data shows […]

THAILAND: Drop Criminal Complaint Against Fortify Rights Senior Human Rights Specialist Puttanee Kangkun

Thai authorities or Thai poultry company Thammakaset Company Limited should immediately drop criminal defamation complaints against Puttanee Kangkun and other human rights defenders, Fortify Rights said today. On December 6, Thammakaset filed a complaint against Puttanee with the Bangkok Southern Criminal Court for 14 social media engagements expressing support for human rights defenders. Puttanee is […]

INDIA/SRI LANKA: Gang Rapes, Justice and Civilization in India and Sri Lanka

An incident was reported in December 2019 from India regarding the gang rape of a woman and what happened thereafter. The news of the gang rape stirred up a massive protest from many parts of India. Among those who were involved in the protest were sections of the intelligencia of India such as Professors, doctors, […]

AHRC TV: Legal profession calls for inquiry into police inaction and other stories in JUST ASIA, Episode 262

In this episode Just Asia begins with Hong Kong, where there have been new developments arising out of an attack at Yuen Long MTR station on ordinary citizens. A group of people wearing white shirts, generally believed to be thugs, attacked protesters and ordinary commuters with knives and batons on July 21st. The Hong Kong […]

INDIA: Government must end violation of bodily integrity and health of women

A Written Submission to the 41st Regular Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council by the Asian Legal Resource Centre The Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC) wishes to draw the attention of the Human Rights Council to the continuing violation of women’s bodily integrity in India exposing them to serious health consequences in India. […]

INDIA: International Women’s Day requires regrouping to claim lost ground

Article | India | 08-03-2019

By Avinash Pandey In functioning democracies based on rule of law, International Women’s Day would be a solemn occasion to mark victories for valiant struggles for the rights of women, to commemorate them, to celebrate them and to reaffirm our faith in continuing the struggle, until ‘women own half the earth and half the sky’. […]

INDIA: Country must bring its missing children back

HRC40 | India | 27-02-2019

A Written Submission to the UN Human Rights Council by the Asian Legal Resource Centre Recently, Aawaj, a partner organisation of the Asian Legal Resource Centre, in India along with Madhya Pradesh Police busted a multi state child-sale racket and helped rescuing many children sold to different families. The bust, sadly, exposes only the tip […]

AHRC TV: Pakistan Supreme Court upholds Asia Bibi acquittal and other stories in JUST ASIA, Episode 246

This week Just Asia begins with Pakistan, where the Supreme Court has rejected a challenge to the acquittal of Asia Bibi on blasphemy charges. After repealing her conviction and death sentence last October, the Court was petitioned by Islamists to review the acquittal. That petition was dismissed on Tuesday, and Asia Bibi is finally free. […]

AHRC TV: Indian police fire at protesters without warning and other stories in JUST ASIA, Episode 244

This week Just Asia begins with India’s north eastern state of Tripura, where police opened fire without any warning against protesters on January 8. Two young men were shot in the chest and are in critical condition. They were peacefully protesting against the Citizenship Amendment Bill, 2016, which is seen as highly inimical to the indigenous peoples […]

INDIA: Authorities hand over trafficked children to families of traffickers

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information regarding a multi- state child sale racket from its partner organization, Aawaj, working in Madhya Pradesh for child rights. Aawaj members played a crucial role in uncovering the racket by acting as decoy customers, and working with the police. In a strange twist however, […]

NEPAL: Human rights defender living in fear after detailing corruption and malpractice in Osho Tapoban

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that Ms. Anshu Gurung, a human rights defender and writer, is in hiding, fearing for her life. After Anshu wrote an article on her experiences at Osho Tapoban International in Nepal, Swami Ananda Arun and his followers have been publicly harassing her and threatening […]

AHRC TV: Bangladesh arrests prominent government critic and other stories in JUST ASIA, Episode 239

This week Just Asia begins with Bangladesh, where police arrested a prominent government critic on Monday. Police said Moinul Hosein, a top lawyer and publisher of an English daily, was detained after Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina slammed him for his comments against a pro-government female journalist. His arrest comes in the wake of a recent government […]