ALRC-CWS-26-13-2014 June 6, 2014 HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL Twenty sixth session, Agenda Item 3, General Debates A joint written submission to the UN Human Rights Council by the Asian Legal Resource Centre with Community Resource Center and Justice for Peace Foundation THAILAND: Enforced disappearance during a time of lawlessness 1. The Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC)[1] wishes to bring the suspected enforced disappearance of Porjalee Rakchongcharoen, a Karen environmental activist and human rights defender (HRD) to the attention of the Human Rights Council. Porjalee disappeared after he was arrested on 17 April 2014 by park officials in Phetchaburi’s Kaeng Krachan National Park in Phetchaburi province, Thailand. The park officials claim that […]
Category: Written Submissions
NEPAL: Council should exert strong pressure to bring a law that criminalises torture
ALRC-CWS-26-12-2014 June 5, 2014 HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL Twenty sixth session, Agenda Item 3, General Debates A joint written submission to the UN Human Rights Council by the Asian Legal Resource Centre and Forum for Protection of People’s Rights, Nepal (PPR Nepal) NEPAL: Council should exert strong pressure to bring a law that criminalises torture 1. Torture is a grave violation of human rights. The prohibition of torture is a fundamental element of international law, enshrined in major international human rights instruments, such as the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT), 1984, Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), 1948 and International Covenant on Civil […]
INDIA: Omnipresent corruption affects all
ALRC-CWS-26-11-2014 June 5, 2014 HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL Twenty sixth session, Agenda Item 3, General Debates A written submission to the UN Human Rights Council by the Asian Legal Resource Centre INDIA: Omnipresent corruption affects all 1. There is not a single state run institution in India that has not succumbed to corrupt practices. Right from the four pillars of democracy – the executive, the judiciary, the legislature, and the media – all public institutions in India are riddled with corruption. Widespread corruption directly impacts the lives of a majority of Indians. 2. While corruption affects all, the worst affected are poor Indians, who comprise 312 million out of a 1.2 […]
SOUTH ASIA: Governments must act to eradicate poverty
ALRC-CWS-26-10-2014 June 4, 2014 HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL Twenty sixth session, Agenda Item 3, General Debates A written submission to the UN Human Rights Council by the Asian Legal Resource Centre SOUTH ASIA: Governments must act to eradicate poverty 1. The Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC) draws the attention of the Human Rights Council to the persistence of extreme poverty in Asian countries. This condition is further deteriorated by widespread hunger and lack of livelihood opportunities, which have made poverty a chronic condition. Most Asian countries have ratified various covenants that make it mandatory for the state to provide basic rights and living conditions of its citizens. While there have been […]
PAKISTAN: The violence against women is continue to be rampant in spite of progressive laws
ALRC-CWS-26-09-2014 June 4, 2014 HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL Twenty sixth session, Agenda Item 3, General Debates A written submission to the UN Human Rights Council by the Asian Legal Resource Centre PAKISTAN: The violence against women is continue to be rampant in spite of progressive laws 1. Despite some pro-women laws introduced by the previous Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP) government, there is no rest or respite in the chronic oppression against women in Pakistan. The true implementation of these laws in letter and spirit still remains a real challenge for the state, law and justice departments. Women are facing spectacularly high rates of discrimination and multiple forms of violence. Crimes like […]
THAILAND: Coup Jettisons Courts
ALRC-CWS-26-08-2014 June 3, 2014 HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL Twenty sixth session, Agenda Item 3, General Debates A written submission to the UN Human Rights Council by the Asian Legal Resource Centre THAILAND: Coup Jettisons Courts 1. In Thailand, the legitimate and democratically elected government of Thailand has been overthrown and the military has usurped power by force. The takeover is a clear and complete violation of the constitution of Thailand. Enormous efforts had been made by the Thai people to develop a democratic constitution. The 1997 constitution was created after years of consultation with all sections of Thai society. One of the preoccupations at the time was to end the entrenched […]
ASIA: Council must urge governments to rein in big businesses violating human rights of the people
ALRC-CWS-26-07-2014 June 3, 2014 HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL Twenty sixth session, Agenda Item 3, General Debates A written submission to the UN Human Rights Council by the Asian Legal Resource Centre ASIA: Council must urge governments to rein in big businesses violating human rights of the people 1. While celebrating extraordinary tales of economic growth, many of the Asian countries have seen their citizens falling through the cracks. Even a cursory glance at the recent stories of growth and development in these countries shows how inequitable it has been for those at the margins of society. Many hardships are faced to access what should be theirs as a matter of right. […]
BANGLADESH: Judiciary undermines its own independence
ALRC-CWS-26-06-2014 June 2, 2014 HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL Twenty sixth session, Agenda Item 3, General Debates A written submission to the UN Human Rights Council by the Asian Legal Resource Centre BANGLADESH: Judiciary undermines its own independence 1. The Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC) wishes to bring the status of the judiciary and legal profession of Bangladesh to the attention of the UN Human Rights Council. 2. Bangladesh has been Member of the Human Rights Council virtually since its formation. The country has been party to two international Covenants and eight Conventions. Being a party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), Bangladesh is obliged to ensure the […]
ASIA: Council should do more to end extrajudicial execution
ALRC-CWS-26-05-2014 June 2, 2014 HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL Twenty sixth session, Agenda Item 3, General Debates A written submission to the UN Human Rights Council by the Asian Legal Resource Centre ASIA: Council should do more to end extrajudicial execution Despite having some of the most stable and rapidly developing countries in the world, Asia is notorious for extrajudicial executions. Both state and non-state actors commit these crimes. As in all human rights abuses committed by state agencies, when it comes to extrajudicial executions, Asian states lack prompt and independent investigation and adjudication modalities. This written submission refers to conditions in Bangladesh, Burma, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Nepal, Pakistan, Thailand, and […]
INDIA: Extrajudicial Executions
ALRC-CWS-26-04-2014 May 30, 2014 HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL Twenty sixth session, Agenda Item 3, General Debates A written submission to the UN Human Rights Council by the Asian Legal Resource Centre INDIA: Extrajudicial Executions 1. High prevalence of extrajudicial executions in a jurisdiction indicates deep problems within its rule of law framework. The higher the number and frequency of such murders, state sponsored or otherwise, the more rooted the problems in the criminal justice process. To this direct correlation, India is no exception. 2. There are, however, no credible statistics available regarding the number and frequency of such killings in India. Neither does the state, which includes the human rights commission, […]