Joint Statement: Bangladesh Authorities Must Conduct Prompt, Thorough, Impartial and Independent Investigations into the Death of Protesters and Respect People’s Right to Peaceful Assembly

The Bangladeshi authorities must conduct prompt, thorough, impartial, and independent investigations into the death of at least 14 protesters across the country between 26 and 28 March, and respect the right to freedom of peaceful assembly, said 11 human rights organizations in a joint statement today. The organizations also called on the

Joint Statement: International Community Must Respond to Crackdown on Freedom of Expression in Bangladesh

The Bangladeshi authorities must end their escalating crackdown on human rights, and respect and protect people’s rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly in Bangladesh to curb protesters demanding justice for writer Mushtaq Ahmed’s death in prison on 25 February, the nine undersigned human rights organizations said in a joint statement

Joint Call for a Global Arms Embargo on Myanmar: An Open Letter to the UN Security Council and Individual UN Member States

We, the undersigned organizations, call on the United Nations Security Council and UN member states to urgently institute a coordinated, global arms embargo on Myanmar in response to the February 1, 2021 military coup that has deprived the people of Myanmar of the right to democratically elect their government. Our concerns are

Joint Statement: CSOs Condemn Targeting Killing of Afghan Activist and Call for Justice

We, the undersigned organisations, strongly condemn the killing of elections monitor and democracy advocate Mohammad Yousuf Rasheed in Afghanistan and urge the authorities to bring those responsible to justice. On the morning of 23 December 2020, Rasheed, executive director of the Free and Fair Election Forum of Afghanistan (FEFA), was shot by

STATEMENT: Respect, protect and fulfill right to peaceful protest in Thailand

Statement by International NGOs on Pro-Democracy Protests on November 17 and 25, 2020 We, the undersigned organizations, condemn the Thai police’s unnecessary and excessive use of force against peaceful protesters marching to the national parliament in Bangkok on November 17, 2020. We are concerned that authorities could employ similar measures when facing

ANFREL Launches Int’l Election Observation Mission to the 2020 Myanmar General Elections

Press Release Yangon, Myanmar 29 October 2020 The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) formally launched its international election observation mission to the 2020 Myanmar General Elections with the deployment of 13 long-term observers (LTOs) on 26 October 2020. As the country is set to hold its general elections on 8 November

Joint Statement: End Enforced Disappearances in Bangladesh

For Immediate Release (Dhaka, August 28, 2020) – Bangladesh security forces and law-enforcement agencies continuously commit enforced disappearances with impunity, targeting journalists, activists, and government critics, 12 human rights groups said today ahead of the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances. The groups remember the victims of enforced disappearances and

ANFREL Hopes for Peaceful Polls in Sri Lanka

On August 5, over 16 million Sri Lankan voters are invited to cast their ballots in South Asia’s first major elections since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Initially scheduled for April 25, the polls had to be postponed twice. On the eve of this exercise in democracy, the Asian Network for

Joint Statement: 4 Years On, No Effective Investigation into Kem Ley’s Unlawful Killing

Today, on the fourth anniversary of the killing of prominent political commentator and human rights defender Kem Ley, we, the 30 undersigned organizations, call on the Cambodian authorities to create an independent Commission of Inquiry to conduct an effective and impartial investigation that is long overdue into Kem Ley’s death. We further

A Call to Defend Democracy

This is a joint statement signed by various organizations and individuals. See endorsers here. The COVID-19 pandemic threatens more than the lives and the livelihoods of people throughout the world. It is also a political crisis that threatens the future of liberal democracy. Authoritarian regimes, not surprisingly, are using the crisis to

STATEMENT: ANFREL joins call for immediate resolution of Ampatuan Massacre case, enjoins int’l community to be vigilant

It has been 10 long years since the Ampatuan Massacre happened in Ampatuan town of Maguindanao, south of the Philippines where 58 people were killed, including 32 journalists and media workers, in one of the most brutal election-related violence recorded. On November 23, 2009, Genalin Mangudadatu, her sisters-in-law, and other relatives made

Joint Statement: Civil Society Organizations condemn the continued investigation of ex-RFA journalists Yeang Sothearin and Uon Chhin

Phnom Penh, 04 October 2019 – We, the undersigned civil society organizations strongly condemn the decision by the Municipal Court judge to continue the investigation into unsubstantiated espionage charges against Yeang Sothearin and Uon Chhin. The pair were arbitrarily arrested, detained and charged for the peaceful exercise of their freedom of expression

Joint Letter: UN Human Rights Council should address human rights crisis in Cambodia at its 42nd session

To Members and Observer States of the United Nations Human Rights Council 30 August 2019 Re: UN Human Rights Council should address human rights crisis in Cambodia at its 42nd session Dear Excellency, The undersigned civil society organizations, representing groups working within and outside Cambodia to advance human rights, rule of law,

De-escalate violence in Hong Kong, respect freedom of peaceful assembly and association

[Joint Statement] (Bangkok, 16 August 2019) – We, the undersigned civil society organisations, express our deep concerns on the escalating violence in Hong Kong, and urge the authorities to ensure conditions for peaceful assembly and association are present, and the protestors to exercise their rights to protest peacefully. We call on the

Joint Open Letter to Prime Minister Modi on Situation in Jammu & Kashmir

PDF Version: Open_Letter_-_Kashmir_-_August_2019_Final-WITH SIGNATORIES-Updated 13.08 (1) Prime Minister Narendra Modi New Delhi 12 August 2019 Dear Prime Minister Modi, We, the undersigned civil society activists and organizations, human rights defenders, lawyers, journalists, and academics from around the globe, write to express our deep concern regarding the recent actions your government has taken over

Cambodia: Three years and still no effective investigation into Dr. Kem Ley’s killing

[JOINT STATEMENT] 9 July 2019 (Bangkok, Thailand) --- Today, on the third anniversary of the killing of prominent political commentator and human rights defender Kem Ley, the 24 undersigned organizations renew calls on the Cambodian government to establish an independent and impartial Commission of Inquiry to conduct a thorough and effective investigation

From Hope to Ballot: Thailand’s Advance Vote on March 17, 2019

For immediate release Bangkok, Thailand In a remarkable expression of their faith in democracy, eighty-seven percent of Thai voters registered for advance voting turned out to vote. Advance Voting Day remained peaceful and orderly but punctuated by instances of mismanagement, inconsistencies in the application of electoral rules by polling staff, and complaints

Joint Statement Against the Undemocratic Electoral Environment in Bangladesh

For Immediate Release December 29, 2018 We, the undersigned organizations, as advocates of human rights and democracy, express our concern regarding the restrictive electoral environment surrounding the 11th General Election in Bangladesh, set to be held on December 30, 2018. Ever since the election was announced, the government of Bangladesh has embarked

ANFREL statement on the termination of its mission in Bangladesh

Bangkok, Thailand December 23, 2018 The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) expresses dismay with the manner in which the Bangladesh authorities have handled the accreditation application process for domestic and international election observers in Bangladesh’s 11th General Elections  (Jatiya Sangsad) to occur on December 30, 2018. While the Bangladesh Election Commission

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