Columns

Dr. Rakhshinda Perveen Dowry-related violence, a serious problem that affects the lives of millions of Pakistani girls and women, and their children, is not seen as a wounding tradition even by the educated ones, and even if they are against the custom, very few dare to protest against it. Media, too, often endorses lavish wedding […]

Reaffirm the power of culture over the culture of power – Edward Said. It is a great honour to be invited to participate and speak at the Asian Human Rights Charter Workshop here at Gwangju, South Korea. A heartfelt thank you to Mr. Basil Fernando & Mr. Bijo Francis of AHRC, Hong Kong and Mr. […]

An article byDr.GaffarPeang-Meth published by the Asian Human Rights Commission It’s good to return to the webpages of the Asian Human Rights Commission. For the last several months it has been my honor—and a real learning experience—to work with award-winning filmmaker, Ellen Grant, Director of Media Services at Evergreen State College, to finalize her documentary […]

An article by Dr. Rakhshinda Perveen published by the Asian Human Rights Commission Violence inherent in dowry is continuously facing exclusion. It therefore does not appear as the major, and most prevalent, form of violence – not only against women and girls, but men as well – in the Islamic republic of Pakistan. The reasons […]

Peter Tatchell Balochistan was forcibly incorporated into Pakistan in 1948, without any public agreement or consent. It is a colony of Pakistan, in all but name, and remains part of Pakistan by armed force. The Baloch people have been denied a referendum on self-determination for nearly seven decades. Pakistan’s grave human rights abuses in Balochistan […]

No doubt, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) worth multi-billion dollars will increase trade, economy, and prosperity, not only in both countries, but also for Middle East, Africa, and beyond. This “one belt, one road”, covering a 2,700 kilometer long route, is a huge project, which will link Gawader (Pakistan) to Kashgar (China), and China to […]

(In memory of 4th year anniversary of the Joseph Colony arson, 9 March 2013) Four years back, on 9 March 2013 Joseph Colony, a Christian community in Lahore was attacked by an enraged mob of thousands. It resulted in the burning of over 170 houses to ashes and affected about 300 families. The Badami Bagh […]

Contributors: Irshad Salim FOR PUBLICATION AHRC-ETC-003-2015 January 22, 2015 An article by Irshad Salim published by the Asian Human Rights Commission Over 40,000 ghost teachers and 5,229 ghost schools remain un-addressed in Sindh despite allocation of Rs 145.02 billion budget for education. Additionally, around 60 percent schools remained without drinking water facility, 40 percent without […]

by Naserullah Baloch This year in many parts of Baluchistan military operations were conducted, and in some areas it is still going on. Many deputations came from the operation hit areas who reported that many people were abducted forcefully by paramilitary troops. Security forces have dumped many mutilated bodies of numerous missing Balochs. In District […]

by Sarmad Ali Domestic violence, bonded labour, child marriages, child abuse and child labour are the never-ending social problems of Pakistan. There are seven landmark laws aimed at protecting Pakistani women — the Protection of Women Act 2006, the Anti-Rape Bill 2014, the Domestic Violence Prevention and Protection Act 2012, the Women in Distress and Detention […]

Contributors: Dr. Gaffar Peang-Meth Cambodians’ dissatisfaction with the country’s direction is well-documented. Displeasure with the ruling Cambodian People’s Party’s rule is coupled with frustration that the opposition Cambodian National Rescue Party leadershave failed to control the CPP – one reason for an outgrowth of small parties likely to split votes from the CNRP in 2018. […]

FOR PUBLICATION AHRC-ETC-002-2015 January 15, 2015 An article by Dr. Gaffar Peang-Meth published by the Asian Human Rights Commission I begin this New Year 2015 with a renewed reminder: It is less what we know, but more how we think, that determines the quality of our life and our future. We must imagine, explore, and […]

Dr. Arun Gupta  Click to view full-size image… — Size: 112.5 kB

If the government does not take charge of the problem of child malnutrition, others will take advantage of the vacuum. Powerful international players ready to feed on hunger have their foot in the door. When all is done and dusted, the Modi government’s claims to success will be judged against India’s darkest distended underbelly, its […]

Contributors: Dr. Gaffar Peang-Meth FOR PUBLICATION AHRC-ETC-022-2014 October 24, 2014 An article by Dr. Gaffar Peang-Meth published by the Asian Human Rights Commission On October 10, a coalition of international groups (Forum Asia, Asia Democracy Network, Civicus, Cooperation Committee for Cambodia’s Beyond 2015 initiative, Global Call to Action Against Poverty (GCAP), International Forum of National NGO Platforms […]

An article by Dr. Gaffar Peang-Meth published by the Asian Human Rights Commission CAMBODIA: The “Ruling Elite” faces charges of crimes against humanity Excitement abounds these few days among Cambodians, particularly expatriates, who hope to see Prime Minister Hun Sen brought to justice before the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague. On October 7, […]

Contributors: Dr. Gaffar Peang-Meth FOR PUBLICATION AHRC-ETC-020-2014 Sept 25, 2014 An article by Dr. Gaffar Peang-Meth published by the Asian Human Rights Commission In about 10 days, thousands of Cambodians (and their foreign friends) in Cambodia and abroad will gather in small and large groups to commemorate the thirty fifth anniversary of the Non-Communist Resistance […]

Contributors: Anwar Ul Haque FOR PUBLICATION AHRC-ETC-018-2014 August 6, 2014 An article by Anwar Ul Haque, published by the Asian Human Rights Commission In last 29 days the world has witnessed unprecedented violation of sanctity of Medical Institutions by Israel in Gaza! Several hundred innocent children and as much unarmed civilian women were brutally killed by unmanned […]

FOR PUBLICATION AHRC-ETC-017-2014 July 28 , 2014 An article by Dr. Gaffar Peang-Meth published by the Asian Human Rights Commission It is an irony that Prime Minister Hun Sen, who clings to political power as the result of alleged electoral irregularities and fraud and who refuses to permit any impartial investigation of the allegations is […]

Contributors: Shad Begum FOR PUBLICATION AHRC-ETC-016-2014 July 21, 2014 An article by Shad Begum  published by the Asian Human Rights Commission Pakistan is prone to natural and man-made disasters. A major earthquake in 2005 and floods and militancy in 2009-2010 caused massive displacements of population, yet we rely on ad hoc measures in times of […]