FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ALRC-STM-003-2014 June 16, 2014 A Statement by the Asian Legal Resource Centre PAKISTAN: Appeal to end enforced disappearances and safe recovery of student leaders The Asian Legal Resources Centre (ALRC) has on numerous previous occasions alerted the Human Rights Council (HRC) of the large numbers of missing persons in Pakistan. The country is continuously beset by widespread, grave human rights violations perpetrated by the various State-agencies and institutions, notably more so by the infamous Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI)[1] and the military. Hundreds of students are reported missing as the result of enforced disappearances taking place across the country – particularly in the conflict – affected areas, mainly in […]
Tag: ALRC Statements
BANGLADESH: Big Brother Law for NGOs on the anvil
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ALRC-STM-002-2014 June 13, 2014 A Statement by the Asian Legal Resource Centre BANGLADESH: Big Brother Law for NGOs on the anvil The Bangladesh government wants to quash human rights activism. The cabinet has approved the “Foreign Donations (Voluntary Activities) Regulations Bill, 2014”, which will likely become law soon. The Bill empowers bureaucrats to decide the fate of NGOs and voluntary activities. All individuals or collectives, from NGO’s to volunteer groups, receiving foreign funds for implementing projects will be under constant surveillance under this law. The law will usher even more arbitrary executive actions in Bangladesh. The Bill, in its current form, empowers bureaucrats to grant registration to […]
BANGLADESH: Incommensurable with the rule of law
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ALRC-STM-001-2014 May 22, 2014 A Statement by the Asian Legal Resource Centre BANGLADESH: Incommensurable with the rule of law The international community continues to invest effort in developing governance systems in countries like Bangladesh. Understanding the dynamics of the country where resources are invested thus remains a quest. Human rights experts hailing from countries with mature democracies and functioning rule of law institutions tend to be well-versed in the behaviour of their country’s institutions. But, such prisms can have little meaning elsewhere. The realities for a citizen in a rule of law nation and realities for a citizen in a country like Bangladesh are incommensurable. In a […]
BANGLADESH: UPR Working Group should make the Review Process useful for Victims of Rights Abuse
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ALRC-STM-001-2013 April 25, 2013 A Joint Statement by the Asian Legal Resource Centre and Odhikar BANGLADESH: UPR Working Group should make the Review Process useful for Victims of Rights Abuse In the lead-up to the UN Universal Periodic Review, Bangladesh finds itself offering its citizens an environment amongst the most inimical to human rights since the nation’s inception. At the UN Human Rights Council’s UPR process on 29 April 2013, during the 16th Session of the UPR Working Group in Geneva, Bangladesh’s human rights record will be up for review. Human rights conditions in Bangladesh have deteriorated rapidly since the Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC) and Odhikar, […]
BANGLADESH: Government suppressed truth to the UPR Session
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ALRC-STM-002-2013 April 29, 2013 A Joint Statement by the Asian Legal Resource Centre and Odhikar on Universal Periodic Review on Bangladesh BANGLADESH: Government suppressed truth to the UPR Session Bangladesh participated in the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) process at the UN Human Rights Council on 29 April 2013 in the 16th Session of the UPR Working Group in Geneva, Switzerland. The Government’s delegation led by Foreign Minister Dr. Dipu Moni presented Bangladesh’s national report during the second cycle of the UPR process under the UN human rights mechanisms. The Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC) and Odhikar participated in the UPR Session and found that the Government in […]
EGYPT: Global civil society condemns abuses, calls for democratic reform and elections
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ALRC-STM-003-2011 February 2, 2011 A Joint Statement by a global civil society actors, including the Asian Legal Resource Centre EGYPT: Global civil society condemns abuses, calls for democratic reform and elections 1 February, 2011 We, civil society organizations from across the world, strongly urge all governments, as well as regional and international organizations, to clearly and unequivocally denounce the ongoing violent crackdown against the public protests and demands for democratic reform and government accountability that have been occurring across Egypt since the 25th of January. The Egyptian government has responded to protests with excessive force. This has included wide-spread use of beatings, arbitrary detentions and the use […]
NEPAL: Nepal urged to accept and implement UPR recommendations and end impunity
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ALRC-STM-002-2011 January 27, 2011 A Statement by the Asian Legal Resource Centre NEPAL: Nepal urged to accept and implement UPR recommendations and end impunity (Hong Kong, January 27, 2011) On Tuesday, Nepal’s human rights record was reviewed for the first time under the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR). The UPR process was established by the UN General Assembly on 15 March 2006 through resolution 60/251 to “review the fulfilment by each State of its human rights obligations and commitments.” The procedure assessed Nepal’s compliance with its international obligations to protect and promote human rights. The UPR review, which represents an important opportunity […]
INDIA: Judicial transparency is not an act of charity
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ALRC-STM-001-2011 January 4, 2011 A Statement by the Asian Legal Resource Centre INDIA: Judicial transparency is not an act of charity The Indian judiciary is once again in the news and this time too it is for appalling reasons. The national and regional media have been reporting in the past two weeks regarding the disproportionate wealth between the declared and known incomes, of some of the close relatives of the former Chief Justice of India, Justice K. G. Balakrishnan. The reports allege that this wealth was amassed in the past four years, during which Justice Balakrishnan served as the Chief Justice of the country. The fact that […]
INDIA: Is Justice Balakrishnan holding a devil’s brief?
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 30, 2010 ALRC-STM-004-2010 A Statement by the Asian Legal Resource Centre INDIA: Is Justice Balakrishnan holding a devil’s brief? The opinion expressed by Justice K. G. Balakrishnan on encounter killings – a euphemism for extrajudicial executions in India – that ‘encounter killings’ are sometimes unavoidable is condemnable. That the former Chief Justice of India, now heads the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), paints a depressing picture for the victims of extrajudicial executions since the Chairperson has spoken his mind. Addressing the press earlier this week, Justice Balakrishnan said that “… encounters are unavoidable sometimes … the law and order problem is increasing. Criminals are taking law into […]
INDIA: Ignorance and pretence underscored in the new law
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ALRC-STM-003-2010 July 28, 2010 A Statement by the Asian Legal Resource Centre INDIA: Ignorance and pretence underscored in the new law Over the past two years, India has been attempting to address problems adversely affecting its law enforcement agencies. These efforts, all of them initiated by the government, unfortunately are not capable of tackling the central issue concerning law enforcement — the question of torture. Use of torture is endemic in India. The police consider torture as an effective and thus essential tool for crime investigation and to maintain control over the people. The appreciation for torture among the rank and file of the law enforcement officers […]