ALRC-CWS-25-15-2014 February 28, 2014 HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL Twenty fifth session, Agenda Item 3, General Debate A written submission to the UN Human Rights Council by the Asian Legal Resource Centre PHILIPPINES: Forced evictions push victims to hunger, inhuman living condition 1. The Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC) draws the attention of the Human Rights Council to increasing attacks on the urban poor in Philippines, particularly in the Metro Manila region. The attacks include denial of livelihood opportunities to the urban poor and demolition of their habitats. Such demolition drives are conducted in violation of Article 11(1) of the International Covenant on Economic Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) promising adequate standard […]
Category: ALRC AT THE UN
INDIA: Remedies to human rights violations a mirage
ALRC-CWS-25-14-2014 February 27, 2014 HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL Twenty fifth session, Agenda Item 3, General Debate A written submission to the UN Human Rights Council by the Asian Legal Resource Centre INDIA: Remedies to human rights violations a mirage 1. India has one of the most commended and emulated legal systems in Asia. The jurisprudence developed by the country’s courts is model to developing and advanced jurisdictions alike in interpreting state responsibility on safeguard human rights guarantees. The judiciary in India enjoys a unique position, shared with only three other jurisdictions in Asia – Japan, Hong Kong and South Korea – concerning independence and absolute non-interference by the executive and by […]
ASIA: Accountability for violence against women committed in official capacities and integration of gender-perspectives in the remedy mechanism
ALRC-CWS-25-13-2014 February 27, 2014 HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL Twenty fifth session, Agenda Item 3, General Debate A written submission to the UN Human Rights Council by the Asian Legal Resource Centre ASIA: Accountability for violence against women committed in official capacities and integration of gender-perspectives in the remedy mechanism 1. Throughout South and East Asian countries women continue to be subjected to unrestrained discrimination and violence. This includes verbal offences and intimidation, harassment, rape and sexual abuse, beating, and torture and ill treatment, perpetrated by police officers, soldiers, members of security forces, and other state actors. 2. The modalities through which such abuses occur may vary depending on the country’s specific […]
THAILAND: Ten years without justice for Somchai Neelaphaijit
ALRC-CWS-25-12-2014 February 26, 2014 HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL Twenty fifth session, Agenda Item 4, General Debate A written submission to the UN Human Rights Council by the Asian Legal Resource Centre THAILAND: Ten years without justice for Somchai Neelaphaijit 1. The Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC) wishes to raise grave concerns with the Human Rights Council about ongoing impunity in the case of the disappearance of Somchai Neelaphaijit in Thailand. On 12 March 2014, the tenth anniversary of Somchai’s disappearance will pass without the perpetrators being held to account. During the past ten years, the Government of Thailand has obstructed the investigation and judicial processes, at times actively and at times […]
INDIA: Hurt, Hunger and Humiliation for the Refugees of the Republic
ALRC-CWS-25-10-2014 February 25, 2014 HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL Twenty fifth session, Agenda Item 3, General Debate A written submission to the UN Human Rights Council by the Asian Legal Resource Centre INDIA: Hurt, Hunger and Humiliation for the Refugees of the Republic 1. The Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC) draws the attention of the Human Rights Council to the disastrous aftermath of the sectarian attacks in September 2013 on the religious minorities in Muzaffarnagar and neighboring areas of Uttar Pradesh in India. The government of Uttar Pradesh has recently admitted in front of the Supreme Court of India that out of the 65 deaths, 50 came from the minority community alone. […]
PHILIPPINES: Torture and violence against children in child care institutions must end
ALRC-CWS-25-09-2014 February 25, 2014 HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL Twenty fifth session, Agenda Item 3, Interactive Dialogue with the Special Representative of the Secretary General on violence against children A joint written submission to the UN Human Rights Council by the Asian Legal Resource Centre and Bahay Tuluyan PHILIPPINES: Torture and violence against children in child care institutions must end 1. The Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC) and Bahay Tuluyan, a local partner of the ALRC working on the issue of children in need of special protection, welcomes the annual report of the Special Representative on Violence against Children (A/HRC/25/47). We unequivocally support the imperatives pursuing the “ban on all forms of […]
BANGLADESH: Human Rights activism at serious risk
ALRC-CWS-25-08-2014 February 24, 2014 HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL Twenty fifth session, Agenda Item 3, General Debate A written submission to the UN Human Rights Council by the Asian Legal Resource Centre BANGLADESH: Human Rights activism at serious risk 1. The Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC) wishes to bring the situation of human rights defenders of Bangladesh to the attention of the UN Human Rights Council. The Government of Bangladesh has been denying opportunity for the human rights activism in the country. Systematic denial of the rights to defend human rights continues to silence constructively critical voices. As a result, the Human Rights Defenders of Bangladesh are in serious danger at this […]
THAILAND: Legal and Extralegal Threats to Freedom of Expression
ALRC-CWS-25-07-2014 February 24, 2014 HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL Twenty fifth session, Agenda Item 3, General Debate A written submission to the UN Human Rights Council by the Asian Legal Resource Centre THAILAND: Legal and Extralegal Threats to Freedom of Expression 1. The Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC) wishes to raise grave concerns about the intensification of legal and extralegal threats to freedom of expression in Thailand. Carried out in the name of protecting the monarchy, this range of threats constitutes the entrenchment of the normalization of the violation of human rights and curtailment of freedom of expression. This statement is the eighth on this topic that the ALRC has submitted to […]
SRI LANKA: The neglect of mass graves
ALRC-CWS-25-06-2014 February 21, 2014 HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL Twenty fifth session, Agenda Item 3, General Debate A written submission to the UN Human Rights Council by the Asian Legal Resource Centre SRI LANKA: The neglect of mass graves 1. A mass grave has been found at Thiruketiswaram, Mannar in January 2014. In 2013 a mass grave was also found at Matale and the investigations are still at early stages regarding the body parts found in this grave. The general condition prevailing, relating to both of these mass graves is that the investigations are not being conducted in terms of modern forensic methodologies which are essential for the proper preservation of the […]
INDONESIA: For justice to be more accessible to victims, an anti-torture law is needed
ALRC-CWS-25-05-2014 February 21, 2014 HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL Twenty fifth session, Agenda Item 3, General Debate A joint written submission to the UN Human Rights Council by the Asian Legal Resource Centre and Padang Legal Aid Institute (LBH Padang) INDONESIA: For justice to be more accessible to victims, an anti-torture law is needed 1. The Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC) and Padang Legal Aid Institute (LBH Padang) wish to bring the attention of the Human Rights Council (HRC) to the matter of Indonesia’s urgent need to adopt a separate anti-torture law. Both organisations welcomed consideration of the issue of torture during the HRC’s 25th session and the significant work of the […]