Latest News

There is as of today, April 7, a de facto state of emergency in Nepal. Thousands of people have taken to the streets protesting against the government headed by King Gyanendra. Parts of the country ha...

Dear friends, On 12 March 2006, at about 6pm, an argument ensued between Sameera Harischandra and friends and four persons who were posing as ‘cattle traders’. After some time the four persons aligh...

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received updated information regarding the further threat and intimidation directed at torture victim, A.P. Jayaweera Sandanayake to withdraw...

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) writes with information regarding police in Nepal having detained more than 100 people for planning to defy a ban on public rallies in the capita...

[RE: UP-068-2006: BANGLADESH: Four alleged perpetrators of rape walk free due to their political influence and power; UA-018-2006: BANGLADESH: Gang rape of a minority woman in Bagerhat district] ̵...

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has come to learn of a case involving the alleged torture and extra-judicial killing of a father and son by the Weligama Police. Despite years ha...

SRI LANKA: Political undermining of the Human Rights Commission; absence of leadership within the Human Rights Commission; government control; failure to implement the 17th Amendment ——...

BANGLADESH: Rape; violence against woman; unfair prosecution for trial; inadequate action by authorities; threat and intimidation; collapse of rule of law ——————...

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has been following the developments regarding the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRC) after its Commissioners’ terms of office ended on April 3, 2...

A report in today’s Daily Mirror newspaper of April 3 states that Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa “is exploring the possibility of setting up independent commissions under the 17th Amend...

Speaking at the induction of the President Elect of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka during its 32nd Annual Convocation, the Chief Justice of Sri Lanka warned that the judiciary could become a laughin...

[RE: UP-151-2005: SRI LANKA: Rape victim and her family’s safety feared following the release of five suspects on bail; UA-183-2005: Rape of a female passenger by the airport officers inside of the B...

[Re: HU-02-2006: River erosion continues to swallow lives and livelihoods in Jalangi, Murshidabad;  HU-09-2005: Government action inadequate in providing rehabilitation to displaced hunger victims ...

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has been informed by the Task Force against Torture (TFT) of Meherpur that following a misunderstanding between the villagers of Bhorat village a...

Today, March 30, 2006 the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has nominated three outstanding widows of human rights defenders to receive jointly the prestigious 2006 , awarded by the May 18 Memorial...

In a news item published in the Island on March 29, 2006 outgoing chairperson of the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka, Radhika Coomaraswamy, confirmed that the terms of office of the Commission me...

SRI LANKA: Brutal assault of a minor; threat and intimidation; violation of the right to freedom from torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment; violation of the right to educati...

[RE: UP-058-2006: BANGLADESH: Police seriously intimidate and threaten victim, her husband and her witnesses; UA-105-2006: BANGLADESH: Pregnant woman tortured by police in Dhaka] ———...

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received updated information regarding another threat to a torture victim, Mr. Hom Bahadur Bagale by the police administration, which are res...

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) writes to inform you that Mrs. Shahin Sultana Santa, a woman who we reported was tortured by the police in Dhaka, despite being pregnant and who ...