ALRC-CWS-25-04-2014 February 20, 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: Absence of police reforms threatens national security 1. Of all what transcribed, aired live by the Indian visual media, the 2008 terrorist attack on Mumbai was also the revealing moment of how India’s security apparatus was thoroughly unprepared to deal with an emergency, like a coordinated attack upon the country’s financial hub and the people who call the city home. By the time the Government of Maharashtra, along with the union government and its security forces counteracted, lives were […]
Category: ALRC AT THE UN
BANGLADESH: Endemic torture continues despite enactment of anti-torture law
ALRC-CWS-25-03-2014 February 20, 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: Endemic torture continues despite enactment of anti-torture law 1. It is not new to the international community that torture is endemic in Bangladesh. It may be surprising to know that torture has been finally criminalized there. On 24 October 2013 the Torture and Custodial Death (Prohibition) Bill, 2013, was enacted by the parliament. The people of Bangladesh achieved this law at the costs of a very high price for decades. Hundreds of people had been tortured to death since […]
PHILIPPINES: Zero Conviction under Anti-Torture Law
ALRC-CWS-25-02-2014 February 19, 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: Zero Conviction under Anti-Torture Law 1. The Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC) expresses its deep concern on the failure of the Philippine government to investigate, prosecute and convict state agents and their accomplices for violating the Anti-Torture Act of 2009. The law has been in operation for over four years now; however, none of the perpetrators involved in the dozens of cases we have documented have been convicted for their crimes. 2. The ALRC recalls the two Resolutions adopted […]
ASIA: Criminal justice reforms imperative to human rights protection
ALRC-CWS-25-01-2014 February 19, 2014 HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL Twenty fifth session, Agenda Item 2, Interactive Dialogue with the High Commissioner A written submission to the UN Human Rights Council by the Asian Legal Resource Centre ASIA: Criminal justice reforms imperative to human rights protection 1. Over the past decade, internationally and regionally, debates on the requirement of criminal justice institution reforms in Asia have died down. In forums like the United Nations itself, debates about justice institution reforms that are required in Asia has taken a backbench, to such an extent, that the Asian states face much less critical review internationally, about their highly under-functioning criminal justice institutions. 2. This is […]
INDONESIA: Existing law and policies puts Indonesian workers abroad at risk of abuse
ALRC-CWS-25-11-2014 February 26, 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 the Network of Indonesian Migrant Workers INDONESIA: Existing law and policies puts Indonesian workers abroad at risk of abuse 1. The Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC), the Network of Indonesian Migrant Workers[1] (Jaringan Buruh Migran Indonesia Cabut UUPPTKILN No. 39 tahun 2004, JBMI) wish to draw the attention of the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) to the failure of existing Indonesian law and policies to provide adequate protection for Indonesian domestic workers abroad. The Hong Kong-based organisations are […]
SRI LANKA: Signs of heading in an increasingly authoritarian direction
Date: September 26, 2013 Document id: ALRC-COS-24-11-2013 HRC section: Item 10, General Debate Speaker: Ms. Answer Styannes A Joint Oral Statement to the 24th Session of the UN Human Rights Council by the Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC) and Franciscans International (FI), non-governmental organizations with general consultative status SRI LANKA: Signs of heading in an increasingly authoritarian direction Thank you Mr. President, The ALRC and Franciscans International (FI) welcome the statement delivered by the High Commissioner at the end of her country mission to Sri Lanka on the 31st of August, 2013 in which she made the following comment: “I am deeply concerned that Sri Lanka, despite the opportunity provided […]
BANGLADESH: Space for fundamental freedoms almost non-existent
Note: This statement was not delivered at the Council due to the lack of time. However, we wish to share this statement with you and provide below the link to the webcast on the UPR report consideration on Bangladesh for your information. Date: September 20, 2013 Document id: ALRC-COS-24-10-2013 HRC section: Item 6, General Debate An Oral Statement to the 24th Session of the UN Human Rights Council by the Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC), a non-governmental organization in general consultative status BANGLADESH: Space for fundamental freedoms almost non-existent Thank you Mr. President, The human rights situation in Bangladesh has suffered the worst during the past four years. The government’s […]
ASIA: Criminal justice systems are failing to enforce international norms and standards on protection of rights
Date: September 17, 2013 Document id: ALRC-COS-24-09-2013 HRC section: Item 4, General Debate Speaker: Mr. Danilo Reyes An Oral Statement to the 24th Session of the UN Human Rights Council by the Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC), a non-governmental organization in general consultative status ASIA: Criminal justice systems are failing to enforce international norms and standards on protection of rights Thank you Mr. President, The ALRC welcomes the report submitted by the Secretary-General which provides an analysis of international legal and institutional framework in the administration of justice. The report concludes that its main challenges lie in its implementation at the domestic level. The ALRC wishes to draw the attention […]
ASIA: Criminal justice reforms is a prerequisite to check authoritarianism in South Asia
Date: September 16, 2013 Document id: ALRC-COS-24-08-2013 HRC section: Item 3, General Debate Speaker: Mr. Danilo Reyes An Oral Statement to the 24th Session of the UN Human Rights Council by the Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC), a non-governmental organization in general consultative status ASIA: Criminal justice reforms is a prerequisite to check authoritarianism in South Asia Thank you Mr. President, The ALRC, Odhikar and its partners agrees with the opinion of Mr. Alfred de Zayas, the UN Independent Expert on the promotion of a democratic and equitable international order. He notes that human rights defenders today face exceptional challenges, particularly in countries where they are subject to threats of […]
THAILAND: Delayed Accountability and Continued Impunity for State Violence
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 5, 2013 ALRC-CWS-24-06-2013 Language(s): English only HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL Twenty-fourth session, Agenda Item 3, General Debate A written statement submitted by the Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC), a non-governmental organisation with general consultative status THAILAND: Delayed Accountability and Continued Impunity for State Violence 1. The Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC) wishes to raise grave concerns with the Human Rights Council about ongoing impunity for state violence during the crackdown on the supporters of the United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD), or the “Red Shirts, during April-May 2010 in Thailand. 2. Beginning in early 2006, the group of citizens who became the People’s Alliance for Democracy […]