FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 20, 2011 ALRC-CWS-17-02-2011 Language(s): English only HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL Seventeenth session, Agenda Item 3, Interactive Dialogue with SR on Extra-judicial killings A written statement submitted by the Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC), a non-governmental organisation with general consultative status PAKISTAN: Impunity for rape and other forms of violence against women must end The Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC) wishes to highlight its continuing concerns about the widespread violation of women’s rights and cases of serious violence against women, including sexual violence, in Pakistan. The ALRC recalls that Pakistan acceded to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) on 12 Mar […]
Category: Human Rights Council
THAILAND: Threats to freedom of expression endanger human rights
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 19, 2011 ALRC-CWS-17-01-2011 Language(s): English only HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL Seventeenth session, Agenda Item 3, Interactive Dialogue with SR on Freedom of Expression A written statement submitted by the Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC), a non-governmental organisation with general consultative status THAILAND: Threats to freedom of expression endanger human rights Since the 19 September 2006 coup, the Asian Legal Resource Center has observed the growing constriction of freedom of expression in Thailand. Locating and silencing dissident speech perceived to be critical of the institution of the monarchy has become a significant focus of the work of a range of Thai state agencies, including the judiciary, the Royal […]
MYANMAR: UPR outcome lacking substance and hope for effective implementation
date: June 8, 2011 document id: ALRC-COS-17-08-2011 HRC section: Item 6: Myanmar UPR Speaker: Mr. Michael Anthony An Oral Statement to the 17th Session of the UN Human Rights Council from the Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC), a non-governmental organization in general consultative status MYANMAR: UPR outcome lacking substance and hope for effective implementation Thank you, The ALRC is of the opinion that the Council need only look at the recommendations that Myanmar has not accepted to understand the challenges that the UPR faces in attempting to be relevant and effective concerning extreme human rights situations. Myanmar has rejected repeated recommendations to end impunity and to reform its legal system […]
ASIA: Religious violence in Asia and impunity for Somchai’s disappearance in Thailand denounced
date: March 15, 2011 document id: ALRC-COS-16-21-2011 HRC section: Item 4: General Debate An Oral Statement to the 16th Session of the UN Human Rights Council from the Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC), a non-governmental organization in general consultative status ASIA: Religious violence in Asia and impunity for Somchai’s disappearance in Thailand denounced Thank you, The Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC) would, at the outset, like to express its deepest sympathy and solidarity with the people of Japan. The ALRC is gravely concerned by Sri Lanka’s perilous plunge into autocracy. Increasing religious violence against minorities, as witnessed in Indonesia concerning Ahmadiyyas, and Pakistan concerning Christians and those opposing the archaic […]
SOUTH ASIA: Legislation used to punish, not protect human rights defenders in South Asia
date: March 14, 2011 document id: ALRC-COS-16-19-2011 HRC section: Item 3: General Debate An Oral Statement to the 16th Session of the UN Human Rights Council from the Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC), a non-governmental organization in general consultative status SOUTH ASIA: Legislation used to punish, not protect human rights defenders in South Asia Thank you, The Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC) wishes to raise grave concerns about the increasing insecurity, threats and obstacles faced by human rights defenders in Asia. In extreme cases, defenders are being subjected to torture, disappearance or murder by State-agents, with impunity. The lack of effective legal safeguards and protection mechanisms in the region must […]
MYANMAR: Council urged to take strong, relevant action to address grave rights abuses
date: March 14, 2011 document id: ALRC-COS-16-20-2011 HRC section: Item 4: Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on Myanmar An Oral Statement to the 16th Session of the UN Human Rights Council from the Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC), a non-governmental organization in general consultative status MYANMAR: Council urged to take strong, relevant action to address grave rights abuses Thank you, The Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC) welcomes the report and work of the Special Rapporteur on Myanmar. We deplore the authorities’ ongoing, unjustifiable obstruction of a country visit since February 2010. The ALRC continues to document numerous cases of arbitrary detention, torture, forced disappearance, and the demented use of […]
ASIA: Large numbers of disappearances not addressed despite efforts of UN Working Group
date: March 08, 2011 document id: ALRC-COS-16-18-2011 HRC section: item 3, interactive dialogue with the Working group on enforced or involuntary disappearances An Oral Statement to the 16th Session of the UN Human Rights Council from the Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC), a non-governmental organization in general consultative status ASIA: Large numbers of disappearances not addressed despite efforts of UN Working Group The Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC) applauds the invaluable work of the Working Group on Enforced Disappearances. It also welcomes the entry into force of the International Convention for the Protection of all Persons from Enforced Disappearance. The ALRC urges all Council members and observers to ratify this […]
ASIA: Torture must be eradicated as part of Pakistan’s “new dawn”
date: March 07, 2011 document id: ALRC-COS-16-17-2011 HRC section: Item 3: Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on Torture An Oral Statement to the 16th Session of the UN Human Rights Council from the Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC), a non-governmental organization in general consultative status ASIA: Torture must be eradicated as part of Pakistan’s “new dawn” The ALRC welcomes the work and report of the Special Rapporteur on torture. In North Africa and the Middle East, revolutions are currently toppling repressive governments that have used torture and other grave abuses to control populations through fear, for decades. During the recent Special Session on Libya, Pakistan made a landmark statement […]
SOUTH ASIA: Institutional overhaul required to prevent torture in the South Asian sub-region
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 4, 2011 ALRC-CWS-16-15-2011 Language(s): English only HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL Sixteenth session, Agenda Item 3, Interactive Dialogue with the SR on Torture A written statement submitted by the Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC), a non-governmental organisation with general consultative status SOUTH ASIA: Institutional overhaul required to prevent torture in the South Asian sub-region In the South Asian sub region, the widespread use of torture remains the central deficit for the realisation of a rule of law framework. The Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC) has documented hundreds of cases of torture that show that torture is not merely practiced as a crude tool for criminal investigation in countries […]
SAUDI ARABIA: Denial of fair trial
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 3, 2011 ALRC-CWS-16-14-2011 Language(s): English only HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL Sixteenth session, Agenda Item 4, General Debate A written statement submitted by the Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC), a non-governmental organisation with general consultative status SAUDI ARABIA: Denial of fair trial The right to fair trial for migrant workers who face criminal charges in countries where they have gone for employment remains an important human rights problem that merits the attention of the Human Rights Council. In this regard, particular importance needs to be given to the migrant workers employed in Saudi Arabia. This issue is well-illustrated in the case of the a 17-year-old Sri Lankan girl […]