On NTF-ELCAC’s Opposition of the Human Rights Defenders’ Protection Act

The National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) claims that House Bill (HB) No. 77 or the proposed Human Rights Defenders Protection Act (HRD Protection Act) is a “grave, vicious, and insidious threat against democracy.” This, however, is self-defeating for the task force. Since its formation, NTF-ELCAC has been known to maliciously tag dissenters and critics of the government as communists and rebels, thus opposing the essence of a true democracy in which dissent should not be limited, much less demonized.

MARTIN ENNALS AWARD CEREMONY 2023 - Khurram Parvez

Martin Ennals Award

The Martin Ennals Award is an annual prize for human rights defenders. Finalists and the Laureate are selected by a Jury of ten of the world’s leading human rights NGOs. The Award provides protection and support to human rights defenders who are at risk.

Joint Letter to the President of the Republic of Korea, Yoon Suk-yeol.

Re: The Republic of Korea’s speedy accession to the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance and effective implementation to fulfil its responsibility as a global pivotal state

Dear President Yoon Suk-yeol,

We welcome the National Assembly’s assent to the Republic of Korea’s accession to the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance on 8 December 2022. Now, we urge your government to speedily accede to the Convention, followed by declarations recognizing the competence of the Committee on Enforced Disappearances to receive and consider communications from individuals or other states parties under articles 31 and 32 of the Convention and measures to ensure effective domestic implementation of the Convention to fulfil the Republic of Korea’s responsibility as a global pivotal state.

BANGLADESH: Government must stop human rights violations and end impunity

A Joint Statement on the occasion of 10 December - International Human Rights Day 2022

Dhaka/ Bangkok/ Geneva/ Hong Kong/ Johannesburg/ Kuala Lumpur/ Manila/ Paris/ Washington DC, 09 December 2022: The undersigned human rights organisations commemorate all victims of human rights violations and stand in solidarity with the victims’ families in Bangladesh and across the world. This year’s International Human Rights Day’s slogan is “Dignity, Freedom, and Justice for All”. International Human Rights Day 2022 is being observed at a time when the human rights situation in Bangladesh continues to worsen. The absence of effective institutions to prevent political intolerance, undemocratic practices and human rights abuses has resulted in rampant impunity. The current authoritarian government has deprived the people of the benefits of good governance and administration of justice through the politicisation of various State institutions, including the judiciary and the Election Commission, and has severely repressed civil and political rights, including the rights to freedom of expression, freedom of peaceful assembly, and freedom of association.