In 2021-2022, at least 4,450 human rights defenders, including their family members, organizations and communities, in 22 countries in Asia, including Sri Lanka, were affected by violence at the hands of state and non-state parties, the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) says.
Human rights defenders across Asia are subject to various forms of violence, the forum says in its latest report analyzing data from 22 Asian countries it monitors.
This report has been prepared by monitoring countries Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, East Timor, Thailand, Vietnam.
These facts are revealed in the publication ‘Defending in Numbers: Rising Together Against All Odds’ which is issued by FORUM-ASIA Forum every two years.
The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) is a network of 85 member organizations operating across 23 countries in Asia, including Sri Lanka.
This report has analyzed the various types of injustices and harassment experienced by human rights defenders working in those countries. The publication identifies key recurring patterns of harassment faced by human rights defenders in the region.
In the year 2021-2022 alone, 1,636 incidents of violence against human rights defenders were reported, according to the report.
The report revealed that the highest number of such atrocities was reported in Myanmar, followed by Thailand and India.
According to the report, the group that was targeted the most were the activists who advocated for democracy.
The next target group is women human rights defenders.
According to the report, harassment related to the judicial process was identified as the most frequently reported violation. According to the report, 1,033 such recorded cases have occurred in the 22 countries concerned during the year 2021-2022.
Physical violence was identified as second place with 516 recorded cases.
The report also revealed that 84 cases of targeted killings were the most affected by this type of violence.
Cases of intimidation and threats against human rights defenders have also continued and 316 related recorded cases have been reported during the relevant year.
This report analyzes the evidence of abuses experienced by human rights defenders in the Asian region, known as the Asian_HRD_Portal_under FORUM-ASIA.
Furthermore, it provides recommendations to governments, UN organizations and companies on how they can more effectively support human rights defenders.
Due to the new challenges created by the COVID-19 epidemic situation and the political upheavals and changes in the entire region, the long-standing problems in Asia have intensified.
In recent times, however, the promotion of human rights in Asia has faced significant challenges.
As a result, human rights activists have to work in a hostile environment, the report said. Despite this, human rights defenders have consistently fought for justice and equality, FORUM-ASIA points out.
In 2021 and 2022, human rights defenders, adapting to unprecedented circumstances, have confirmed their role as primary agents in the promotion of human rights in the region, said the forum.
FORUM-ASIA Executive Director Mary Eileen D Bacalso said it was regrettable that, 25 years after the unanimous adoption of the UN Human Rights Defenders Declaration, a report like this, which read about the ongoing abuses against human rights defenders, had to be released.
Anyone who protects and promotes human rights through peaceful action is a defender.
This includes people like democracy defenders, women human rights activists, media activists, sexual orientation and gender identity rights defenders, land, indigenous peoples, nature-related community-fundamental rights defenders, student and activist rights defenders, non-governmental organizations, minority rights, security guards and artists.
The request of the forum is to confirm the safety of human rights defenders by presenting the latest data.
To protect and support human rights defenders to carry out their role freely and safely, as well as to advocate for human rights without fear, intimidation and harassment, through the necessary support, obligations to international conventions that bind governments – particularly UN human rights defenders. FORUM-ASIA asked the governments of the respective countries to be accountable under the UN Declaration on HRDs.
The forum further demanded the immediate release of all human rights defenders and the withdrawal of charges filed against them.
FORUM-ASIA was established in 1991 to strengthen the movement for human rights and sustainable development through research, advocacy, capacity building and collaborative action. FORUM-ASIA maintains a consultative position with the United Nations Economic and Social Council and a consultative relationship with the ASEAN Inter-Commission on Human Rights.
‘Defending in Numbers: Rising Together Against All Odds’ full report here.
