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 […]
Category: documents
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 […]
INDIA: Absence of police reforms threatens national security
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 […]
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 […]
BANGLADESH: New book “Human Rights and Governance: Bangladesh” released
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE PRESS RELEASE ALRC-PRL-004-2013 A Press Release by the Asian Legal Resource Centre BANGLADESH: New book “Human Rights and Governance: Bangladesh” released (Hong Kong, November 6, 2013): The Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC) has published a new book titled, “Human Rights and Governance: Bangladesh” edited by Md Shariful Islam, Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Dhaka, and contributed by eleven authors, including the editor, in nine chapters. The edited volume is an outcome of an ALRC project titled, “Corruption, Torture and Extrajudicial Killing in BANGLADESH: Examining the Role of State Institutions” that took place mostly between July 1, 2011 and June 30, 2012. As the […]
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 […]