MYANMAR: The problem of a U.N. member state disconnected from a normative framework: Myanmar and the Human Rights Council review

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 2, 2011 ALRC-CWS-16-12-2011 Language(s): English only HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL Sixteenth session, Agenda Item 4, Interactive Dialogue with the SR on Myanmar A written statement submitted by the Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC), a non-governmental organisation with general consultative status MYANMAR: The problem of a U.N. member state disconnected from a normative framework: Myanmar and the Human Rights Council review 1. In a separate submission to this session of the Human Rights Council, the Asian Legal Resource Centre has analyzed how the Government of Myanmar recently treated the Universal Periodic Review process not as an opportunity for dialogue of the sort that the process envisages but as […]

SRI LANKA: Government failing to cooperate with the Human Rights Council and eradicate torture

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 1, 2011 ALRC-CWS-16-11-2011 Language(s): English only HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL Sixteenth session, Agenda Item 3, Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on Torture A written statement submitted by the Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC), a non-governmental organisation with general consultative status SRI LANKA: Government failing to cooperate with the Human Rights Council and eradicate torture The Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC) is gravely concerned by the widespread and endemic use of torture in Sri Lanka and the lack of any credible action by the government, as shown by its failure to implement the many recommendations made by the United Nations (UN) human rights system, notably the Special […]

BANGLADESH: Government continues to dither instead of criminalizing torture

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 28, 2011 ALRC-CWS-16-10-2011 Language(s): English only HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL Sixteenth session, Agenda Item 3, Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on Torture A written statement submitted by the Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC), a non-governmental organisation with general consultative status BANGLADESH: Government continues to dither instead of criminalizing torture The Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC) is writing to the 16th session of the Human Rights Council to recall the urgent need for the government of Bangladesh to ensure the criminalization of torture. Torture remains an endemic problem that is deeply entrenched in law-enforcement practices and investigation methodologies. The UN Human Rights Council must have the capacity […]

NEPAL: Security and protection of Women Human Rights Defenders in Nepal

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 25, 2011 ALRC-CWS-16-09-2011 Language(s): English only HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL Sixteenth session, Agenda Item 3, Interactive Dialogue with the SR on HR defenders A joint written statement submitted by the Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC), a non-governmental organisation with general consultative status, with Women’s Rehabilitation Center (WOREC) Nepal NEPAL: Security and protection of Women Human Rights Defenders in Nepal The Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC) is submitting this statement as a joint statement with leading Nepalese organisation, the Women’s Rehabilitation Center (WOREC) Nepal. The findings in this submission are based on WOREC’s extensive work in favour of women’s rights in Nepal and with the aim of supporting […]

PAKISTAN: Council urged to tackle endemic torture and impunity, or become irrelevant

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 24, 2011 ALRC-CWS-16-08-2011 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 PAKISTAN: Council urged to tackle endemic torture and impunity, or become irrelevant The Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC) wishes to again bring the Human Rights Council’s attention to the widespread and endemic nature of the use of torture in Pakistan. The ALRC has raised this issue repeatedly with the HRC and the Commission on Human Rights before it, as well as the Special Procedures and the UPR […]

SPAIN: Judges and the Rule of Law: the prosecution of Judge Garzon

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 23, 2011 ALRC-CWS-16-16-2011 Language(s): English only HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL Sixteenth session A Joint Statement by Lawyers Rights Watch Canada (LRWC), the International Association of Democratic Lawyers (IADL) and the Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC) SPAIN: Judges and the Rule of Law: the prosecution of Judge Garzon Lawyers Rights Watch Canada (LRWC), the Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC)1 and the International Association of Democratic Lawyers call on the Human Rights Council to fulfill its duty to promote and protect the rule of law and fundamental rights and freedoms in Spain and around the world by recommending and monitoring:2 1. Guarantees of absolute immunity for judges from criminal […]

SOUTH ASIA: Culture of impunity, a threat to human rights work in South Asia

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 23, 2011 ALRC-CWS-16-07-2011 Language(s): English only HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL Sixteenth session, Agenda Item 3, Interactive Dialogue with the SR on human rights defenders A written statement submitted by the Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC), a non-governmental organisation with general consultative status SOUTH ASIA: Culture of impunity, a threat to human rights work in South Asia In 2010, Human Rights Defenders (HRDs) continued to be under serious threat due to their work in the South Asian sub-region. The Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC) witnessed intensified attacks on HRDs in Sri Lanka, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal, including criminal intimidation from state and non-state actors, physical abuse including […]

INDONESIA: Widespread impunity in Papua aggravating tensions

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 22, 2011 ALRC-CWS-16-06-2011 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 INDONESIA: Widespread impunity in Papua aggravating tensions The Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC) is seriously concerned by ongoing, widespread human rights violations and violent acts being committed by the Indonesian security forces in the Papuan highlands in Indonesia. Impunity typically accompanies even the most serious abuses, as shown by the lack of effective remedies in a case of severe torture that the ALRC has documented recently. Despite institutional reforms in Indonesia, effective […]

MYANMAR: UPR as an exercise in the making of fiction: An analysis of the presentation by Myanmar

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 21, 2011 ALRC-CWS-16-05-2011 Language(s): English only HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL Sixteenth session, Agenda Item 4, Interactive Dialogue with the SR on Myanmar A written statement submitted by the Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC), a non-governmental organisation with general consultative status MYANMAR: UPR as an exercise in the making of fiction: An analysis of the presentation by Myanmar 1. In submissions on Myanmar for the Universal Periodic Review process of the Human Rights Council, the Asian Legal Resource Centre among 24 concerned organizations made submissions based upon years of in-depth research into the egregious human rights situation in that country. The ALRC took the process very seriously. It […]

NEPAL: Serious threats to human rights defenders hampering democratisation and peace-building

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 18, 2011 ALRC-CWS-16-04-2011 Language(s): English only HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL Sixteenth session, Agenda Item 3, Interactive Dialogue with the SR on HR defenders A joint written statement submitted by the Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC), a non-governmental organisation with general consultative status with the support of WOREC, FEDO, and JMC NEPAL: Serious threats to human rights defenders hampering democratisation and peace-building The following statement is being submitted to inform the debate of the Human Rights Council concerning human rights defenders in Nepal, by the Asian Legal Resource Centre, with the support of the Women’s Rehabilitation Center (WOREC), the Feminist Dalit Organisation (FEDO) and the Jagaran Media Center […]