Government interference in the media must stop and repressive ICT Act and DSA must be repealed

Odhikar’s Statement on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day 2021

3 May is World Press Freedom Day, as recognised by the United Nations. This year’s theme for World Press Freedom Day, “Information as a Public Good”, serves as a call to affirm the importance of cherishing reliable information as a public good. However, while this day is being commemorated all over the world, the freedom of the media has been severely endangered and threatened by disrupting the free flow of information and authentic and objective news distribution in Bangladesh...

Press Statement by Civil Society Members of Nepal

The human rights community of Nepal welcomes the recent statement by the independent human rights experts of the United Nations dated 27 April 2021 strongly urging the Nepal Government to rectify the appointments of National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) commissioners which were made contrary to the Principles relating to the Status of National Institutions (The Paris Principles). The experts said they were “deeply concerned that the appointment process is not in line with international standards and that it undermines the independence, integrity and legitimacy of the NHRC, which restricts the ability of the people of Nepal to access appropriate remedies for alleged human rights violations."

Joint Public Letter to UNOHCHR - Bangladesh World Press Freedom Day 2021

03 May 2021

H.E. Michelle Bachelet
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
Palais Wilson
52 rue des Pâquis
CH-1201 Geneva, Switzerland

RE: Crackdown on Press Freedom & Freedom of Expression in Bangladesh

Dear High Commissioner Bachelet,

On the occasion of World Press Freedom Day, we write to draw your attention to the escalating human rights violations perpetrated by the Bangladesh government, exemplified in part by the increasing crackdown on press freedom and the freedom of expression of journalists, activists, and dissidents.

BANGLADESH AUTHORITIES MUST CONDUCT PROMPT, THOROUGH, IMPARTIAL, AND INDEPENDENTINVESTIGATIONS INTO THE DEATH OF PROTESTERS AND RESPECT PEOPLE’S RIGHT TO PEACEFUL ASSEMBLY

JOINT STATEMENT

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 international community to urge Bangladeshi authorities to put an end to the practice of torturing and forcibly disappearingopposition activists.

Between 20 and 26 March 2021, police and members of ruling party Awami League attacked a series of protests across the country organized by different political and civil society groups, beat up and injured hundreds of largely peaceful protesters, according to local media reports.