The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) welcomes the Thai Court of Appeal’s ruling that the Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC)—a government agency responsible for Thailand’s internal security—is liable for “damaging the reputations” of Senator and human rights activist Angkhana Neelapaijit and  women human rights defender Anchana Heemmina.

6 civil society groups have demanded the release of Hong Kong pro-democracy activist and UN-recognised refugee Zhang Xinyan and called on the Thai authorities to refrain from deporting her to China, where she is at risk of arbitrary detention, limited legal protections, and an unfair trial.

<p>&#39;ASEAN has failed to recognise the peoples&rsquo; desire for a meaningful political solution to the Myanmar crisis during its Leaders&#39; Meeting,&#39; said the Asian Forum for Human Rights and&nbsp;Development&nbsp;(FORUM-ASIA), along with its member organisations from Indonesia and Myanmar in a joint statement on 30 April. &nbsp;</p>

<p>The Thai government&rsquo;s inadequate response to the enforced disappearance of&nbsp;pro-democracy activist Wanchalerm Satsaksit demonstrates its failure to protect human rights defenders and other dissenting voices, Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) and Asia Democracy Network said today.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The railroading of the Anti-Terrorism Bill in the Philippines will further erode human rights in the country, rights groups said today.</p>

<p>A decade after Thailand&rsquo;s deadly crackdown against anti-government protesters, accountability for the political massacre remains elusive, said rights organisations on its tenth anniversary.</p>

<p>A new report by CIVICUS Monitor, a global research collaboration which rates and tracks respect for fundamental freedoms in 196 countries, shows that the assault on civil society and fundamental freedoms has persisted in Asia.</p>

<p>Manushya Foundation, CIVICUS and the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) call on the Government of Lao PDR to remove all unwarranted restrictions on civic space in the country ahead of its human rights review to be held at the United Nations (UN) in January-February 2020. The review will mark five years since UN member states made 33 recommendations to the Lao government that directly relate to barriers to open civic space. As of today, the government has partially implemented only three recommendations.</p>