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The Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC) works towards the radical rethinking & fundamental redesigning of justice institutions in Asia, to ensure relief and redress for victims of human rights violations, as per Common Article 2 of the International Conventions. Sister organisation to the Asian Human Rights Commission, the ALRC is based in Hong Kong & holds general consultative status with the Economic & Social Council of the United Nations.

PHILIPPINES: Torture of RahmanTotoh – ALRC responds to Government’s report to UN

Countries, documents, Philippines, statements March 18, 2015January 16, 2017 admin 0 Comments

A Statement by the Asian Legal Resource Centre Further to our comments on the Government’s periodic report to the UN Committee against Torture, herein we will look into the case of RahmanTotoh. In its communications (UN Doc. CAT/C/PHL/Q/3, para. 5), the Committee requested the Government to comment on “no investigations” into Totoh’s claim of torture, in addition tothe medical examination he received not meeting“the standards required by the Anti-Torture Act”. In a letter to Mr. Juan Mendez, UN Special Rapporteur on torture, dated September 23, 2011, the Asian Human Rights Commission, ALRC’s sister organisation, urged the Rapporteur to intervene to ensure that an impartial and prompt investigation is conducted in […]

PHILIPPINES: UN expert held-the government violated Maguindanao massacre families rights to be free from “cruel, inhuman treatment”

Countries, documents, Philippines, press releases March 17, 2015January 16, 2017 admin 0 Comments

A Press Release by the Asian Legal Resource Centre (Hong Kong, March 17, 2015) For “failing to provide reparations to survivors and their families,” Mr. Juan E. Mendez, UN Special Rapporteur on torture, concluded: the government violated the rights of witnesses, survivors and families of the Maguindanao massacre, to be free from “cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment.” Mendez’s report  (UN Doc. A/HRC/28/68/Add.1, para. 433-434) refers to the government’s obligations under article 16 of the Convention against Torture (CAT) to prevent “other acts of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment” that do not amount to torture. In his report on the Philippines presented to the 28th Session of the UN Human Rights […]

Tragicomedy of Constitutional Autochthony

Books, Tragicomedy of Constitutional Autochthony January 1, 2015January 16, 2017 admin 0 Comments

“Tragicomedy of Constitutional Autochthony”, by Basil Fernando, is a compendium of articles linked to a common theme which is the need for recognising that the legal system in Sri Lanka and in particular the justice system is facing a threat of being alienated from the people. The short essays is an attempt to direct the attention of all Sri Lankans to this crisis. [gview file=”http://alrc.asia/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/The-Tragicomedy-of-Constitutional-Authochthony.pdf”]  

Undermining of the Legal and Political Systems

Books, Undermining of the Legal and Political Systems December 31, 2014January 16, 2017 admin 0 Comments

Latest AHRC publication “Undermining of the Legal and Political Systems” by Basil Fernando  explores in detail the all-pervading societal crisis that has been created by the undermining of both the political and the criminal justice administration systems in the country and work towards greater democratisation of the political system and the return to the rule of law. [gview file=”http://alrc.asia/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Undermining-of-the-Legal-and-Political-Systems.pdf”]

Deterioration of the Legal Intellect in Sri Lanka – A Miraculous Cure is Possible

Books, Deterioration of the Legal Intellect in Sri Lanka December 30, 2014January 16, 2017 admin 0 Comments

( June 16, 2015 – Hong Kong ) We are sharing with you, the most recent publication of AHRC, entitled:  Deterioration of the Legal Intellect in Sri Lanka – A Miraculous Cure is Possible. It is a collection of recently published articles written by Basil Fernando, on problems of the Sri Lankan Justice System-i.e. Police, prosecutors and judicial system, which obstruct democracy and rule of law. Author suggests some basic changes that that may help to resolve these problems.

WORLD: Council members must reject procedural tactics that foreclose substantive debate

documents, General, statements, World September 29, 2014August 28, 2015 admin 0 Comments

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ALRC-STM-005-2014 September 29, 2014 A Joint Statement by the Asian Legal Resource Centre WORLD: Council members must reject procedural tactics that foreclose substantive debate Excellency, We write to express our concern about a worrying development in the Human Rights Council in the use of procedural tactics to silence important and legitimate debate on critical human rights issues and situations. At the Council’s 26th session in June 2014, we witnessed the use of a ‘no-action motion’ to prevent the consideration of an amendment proposed to the resolution on the ‘Protection of the family and all its members’, thereby preventing substantive debate. A ‘no-action motion’ is a procedural motion […]

BANGLADESH: People’s rights cannot be conceived without the existence of the rule of law

Bangladesh, Countries, documents, press releases September 12, 2014January 16, 2017 admin 0 Comments

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE PRESS RELEASE ALRC-PRL-001-2014 A Press Release by the Asian Legal Resource Centre BANGLADESH: People’s rights cannot be conceived without the existence of the rule of law (Hong Kong, September 12, 2014) “People’s rights cannot be conceived without the existence of the rule of law, in any given territory,” says the Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC) in a new edition of its quarterly journal, article2, examining the inexistence of the rule of law in Bangladesh. The publication titled “Special Report: Inexistent Rule of Law in Bangladesh“, Vol. 13, No. 2 & 3, June – September 2014, is now available online. This special edition focuses on the criminal justice […]

AHRC and ALRC: History & Achievements

History & Achievements September 1, 2014January 16, 2017 admin 0 Comments

HISTORY & ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE ASIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION & THE ASIAN LEGAL RESOURCE CENTRE, traces 30 years of work of the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) and its sister organisation the Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC). Both the AHRC and the ALRC are based in Hong Kong, and work in Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Cambodia, Indonesia, Thailand, South Korea, Hong Kong, and China. The organisations were launched in 1984. The period was marked by the emergence of several authoritarian regimes in Asia. General Ne Win established a military regime in Burma in 1962.  General Suharto established yet another military dictatorship in Indonesia after a horrendous massacre […]

EGYPT: Dissolution Ultimatum for Independent Groups

documents, Egypt, statements, Uncategorized August 30, 2014August 28, 2015 admin 0 Comments

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ALRC-STM-004-2014 August 30, 2014 A Joint Statement by the Asian Legal Resource Centre EGYPT:Dissolution Ultimatum for Independent Groups September 2 Deadline to Comply with Draconian 84/2002 Law (London, August 30, 2014) – Independent organizations in Egypt face a looming crackdown, 45 international and national human rights groups from across the globe said today in a joint statement. The Egyptian Social Solidarity Ministry placed an advertisement in leading state newspaper Al-Ahram on July 18, 2014, giving all Egyptian and international nongovernmental organizations until September 2 to register under Law 84/2002, a restrictive measure passed during the Mubarak rule. This law empowers the government to shut down any group […]

ASIA: Parallel event on Rule of Law in Bangladesh

Uncategorized June 17, 2014 admin 0 Comments

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ALRC-ANM-002-2014 June 17, 2014 An Announcement by the Asian Legal Resource Centre ASIA:Parallel event on Rule of Law in Bangladesh Parallel Event: UN Human Rights Council 26th Session ‘Rule of Law in Bangladesh’ Thursday 19 June 2014, 16:00-18:00 Room XXIII, Palais des Nations The Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC) and CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation along with the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and Human Rights Watch (HRW) invite you to a parallel event on “The Rule of Law in Bangladesh.” The event is scheduled for 19 June 2014 from 16:00 to 18:00 along-side the 26th session of the Human […]