Vietnam becomes 81st party to UNCAT
Vietnamese Ambassador Le Hoai Trung signed the United Nations Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (UNCAT) on Friday, making the country the latest to join the convention.
On behalf of the Vietnamese Government, the Ambassador signed the UNCAT at the United Nations headquarters on...
Weekly Overview: Thai Fishery Organisations Collaborate to Address Labour Issues
ANALYSIS - In this week's news, the Board of Trade of Thailand has joined force with eight associations and Charoen Pokphand Foods to create the “Thai Fishery Producers Coalition” (TFPC), which will work on addressing labour issues and work against illegal child labour, forced labour and human trafficking in...
Cambodia: Coca-Cola to Probe Seven-Year-Old Cambodian Land Grab Case
Declaring that it has "zero tolerance" towards land grabbing, Coca-Cola has agreed to investigate a long running case in Cambodia where villagers are seeking court action against a company accused of seizing their land to make way for plantations linked to the supply of sugar to the soft drinks...
On ASEAN’s Human Rights Declaration
November 2013 marks the one year anniversary of the Asean Human Rights Declaration (AHRD). This time last year, in the context of human rights, the 10 member states (Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Philippine, Thailand, Brunei, Laos, Burma, Cambodia and Vietnam) of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) jointly adopted...
Malaysia: A day at the Fugee School: the beginning of new life
One of my greatest highlights whilst interning at the Malaysian Centre for Constitutionalism and Human Rights was going out and seeing the Fugee School in Gombak. Whilst Gombak would only be considered as the end of the line for many Malaysians, for a group of refugee children from Somali,...
Malaysia: Ambiga says Isma’s claim ‘mischievous’, will seek legal advice
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 11 — Prominent lawyer Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan said that Ikatan Muslimin Malaysia (Isma)’s attempt to paint her as a “mastermind” behind a human rights coalition is “very mischievous”, saying that she will seek legal advice over the Islamist group’s claim.
When asked about Isma’s accusation, Ambiga clarified...
Lutherans see Malaysia ‘Allah’ ban for Christians violating religious freedom
The Lutheran World Federation has expressed deep concern over a Court of Appeal ruling in Malaysia, forbidding a Roman Catholic publication from using the Malay-language word "Allah" for God.
In a November 5 letter to LWF church leaders in Malaysia, the president of the Lutheran federation, Bishop Munib A. Younan,...
Ashton: EU steady partner for Myanmar
BRUSSELS, Nov. 11 (UPI) -- European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said Monday the bloc is resolved to help Myanmar chart a course to peace and sustainable development.
"The European Union is determined to help Myanmar pursue the path of peace, democracy and sustainable development; building up trade and...
Nearly 500,000 teens give birth in Indonesia annually
JAKARTA - As many as 1.7 million local girls and women under the age of 24 give birth annually, with nearly a half a million of them being teenagers, a representative of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Indonesia has said.
"Young people account for 37 per cent of...
Indonesia: Palm Oil Companies Keep Breaking the Promises They Claim to Keep
The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) was created in 2004 by the palm oil industry and civil society groups (including conservation groups like the WWF) to set guidelines for greener oil production and to encourage industry expansion without social conflict. 15 percent of palm oil produced is now...
