July 5, 2024 The burden of climate change on religion and culture To build a comprehensive picture of climate change’s impacts, legal practitioners must address non-economic loss and damage. By Ashley Otilia Nemeth & Anagha Komaragiri Español
March 13, 2024 Fighting transphobia in Malaysia: A human rights imperative Transphobic violence and discriminatory policies toward transgender individuals are widespread in Malaysia. The Malaysian government must take concrete steps to ... By Manissha Kaur Español
February 27, 2024 Citizenship laws and transgender subjectivities in new India Recent legislation in India has introduced new legal and bureaucratic hurdles for transgender people, particularly those facing additional discrimination based ... By Ankita Mukherjee Español
January 24, 2024 Manipur atrocities and India’s failure to uphold the UN Convention on Human Rights The Indian state’s failure to address human rights abuses during the ongoing ethnic conflict in the Manipur region constitutes a violation of protections granted ... By Nardeep Chawla Español
September 22, 2023 Digital agriculture: A new frontier for data rights Human rights–based governance frameworks are urgently needed to prevent data-driven exploitation, which will worsen inequalities in food and agriculture. By Philip Seufert Español
May 15, 2023 Uyghurs stuck in the US asylum system have no time to lose As of March 2023, delays in most Uyghur cases across the asylum system are due to court date scheduling. By Henryk Szadziewski Español
May 2, 2023 Cuckoos, chameleons, and Indian citizenship The Indian government uses strategies to disguise its authoritarian nationalist actions through constitutional rights. By Farrah Ahmed Español
April 27, 2023 What would a new Cold War between China and the US mean for human rights? The Chinese government’s impact on the international human rights regime is not well documented and a recommitment from the US to human rights is not fully clear ... By Daniel Braaten Español
April 17, 2023 A UN review shows the limits of China’s loud microphone communications strategy As the Chinese government seeks “center stage,” its compliance with its human rights obligations should be there as well. By William Nee Español
April 4, 2023 India should criminalize the use of 'virginity tests' The Supreme Court of India could ban the so-called “virginity tests” in cases of rape and sexual assault. By Sarthak Gupta Español
January 16, 2023 Gendered juvenile detention in the Philippines In Duterte’s war on drugs, women victims have been largely invisible. By Pamela Camacho & Steffen Jensen Español
September 16, 2022 Revitalizing the UN human rights treaty bodies through regionalization Five reasons why the proposal to regionalize treaty body meetings would work. By Marcia V. J. Kran & Shelley Inglis Español
July 21, 2022 India’s Supreme Court rules to protect sex workers amid the COVID-19 pandemic In a historic rule, the Supreme Court of India aimed to protect the constitutional rights of sex workers in the country. By Sarthak Gupta Español
January 31, 2022 How Kazakhstan’s control of information can turn into a regime weakness Network interference and internet shutdowns in the Central-Asian country have become a staple method of stifling the free flow of information during politically ... By Pavlina Pavlova Español Русский
January 28, 2022 Vaccinations and migrant worker lockdowns: COVID-19 and human rights in Singapore Despite its contributions to the global vaccine effort, Singapore has failed to commit to human rights for its migrant worker population. By Alana Barry Español
August 20, 2021 The ban on the practice of ‘curing queer sexuality’ in India Although the Mental Health Care Act can be invoked to provide limited protective measures to the LGBTQIA+ community, a separate law is essential to entirely eradicate ... By Sarthak Gupta Español
July 22, 2021 Boycotting the Olympic Games is not enough The history of human rights efforts around the Games is mostly a history of failure. By Barbara Keys Français Español العربية
May 13, 2021 Inaction on ecological contamination finds a market “We want to live safe lives, and this is how we want to live. We don’t just care for ourselves, we care for the animals.” By Tarini Manchanda Español
February 16, 2021 Reckoning with racism against Black migrants in Mexico Now is the time for Mexico to address the anti-Black racism, xenophobia, and other forms of discrimination that impact Black migrants in the country. By S. Priya Morley Español
July 15, 2020 Toppling modern-day Goliaths in the fight against climate polluters In climate litigation in the Philippines against 47 large corporations, a Greenpeace legal team showed that big polluters can be held morally and legally responsible ... By Hasminah Dimaporo Paudac Español
July 9, 2020 The right to employment security in post-COVID Indonesia Prioritizing the launch of Indonesia’s pre-employment card compromises the distribution of existing social assistance programs that could directly help those in ... By Dominique Virgil Bahasa
June 28, 2020 Are matters of national survival related to climate change really beyond a court’s power? Courts can adjudicate the effectiveness of emissions reduction policies in protecting fundamental rights without encroaching on the powers of the political branches ... By Sophie Marjanac & Sam Hunter Jones Español
June 28, 2020 The promises and challenges of climate change litigation in India As India surges forward with an aggressive development agenda, the judiciary’s involvement in climate change litigation is viewed by many as an obstacle to speedy ... By Arpitha Kodiveri Español
June 24, 2020 Normalizing the state of exception: Japan’s response to COVID-19 COVID-19 may prove to be just the game changer that Japan’s prime minister needs to push through his agenda for revising the Constitution. By Saul Takahashi Español
June 18, 2020 Returning to “normal” is impossible for India’s tea plantation workers Workers in India’s tea plantations have pre-existing health and environmental conditions that make them highly vulnerable to COVID-19, making a return to “normal” ... By Shreya Sen Español
June 17, 2020 Putting people at the heart of the human rights treaty body system Samoa held a ground-breaking treaty body session on child rights, evidencing the benefits of extending these sessions beyond Geneva. By Ashley Bowe & Joshua Cooper Français
May 12, 2020 Over-policing in India is not the answer to COVID-19 The recent behaviour of police in India begs the question: is a punitive approach to a public health crisis necessary and warranted? By Urmila Pullat & Roohi Huma Español العربية
May 11, 2020 Is China the future for hybrid CSO funding models? As foreign funding dries up, Chinese CSOs have quickly adapted and reinvented themselves to mobilize local funding. By Shawn Shih-hung Shieh Español 简体中文
April 24, 2020 China, the coronavirus, and the liberal international order China’s apparent success in tackling COVID-19 will bolster its authoritarian political system—and its restrictive approach to human rights. By Christopher W. Bishop Español 简体中文
April 7, 2020 How data is improving justice for gender-based violence in Fiji To advance equity for girls and to improve faith in the justice system, combatting biases that privilege the interests of perpetrators of gender-based violence ... By Erin Thomas Español Na Vosa Vakaviti
April 2, 2020 Marching against India’s discriminatory Citizenship Amendment Act Demonstrators across India protested a new Act that prohibits certain religions from citizenship while fast-tracking others. By Arpitha Kodiveri Español
March 26, 2020 First UN human rights decision on climate migration—a modest step forward For the first time, a UN body has decided the case of a climate migrant, and in doing so strengthened the duty on states to address climate change because it poses ... By Deborah Casalin Español
March 5, 2020 Fighting for rights in the streets—not just the courts—of Hong Kong The Hong Kong protest movement has long given up hope that Hong Kong’s rule of law can be protected with judicial means only. By Katrin Kinzelbach & Eva Pils Español 简体中文
December 19, 2019 Rethinking solutions to the Rohingya refugee crisis The Rohingya refugees are unlikely to be able to return home anytime soon. We need to look at other options to allow them to rebuild their lives and communities. By Brian Gorlick Français العربية
November 25, 2019 “Our house is on fire”: the Asian climate emergency Declaring a climate emergency is not enough, but women activists in Asia are pushing for these declarations to send policy signals across every level of government. By Beatrice Tulagan Español Tagalog
November 25, 2019 Despite supposed food assistance in India, people are starving to death Social systems in India are crumbling, leading to starvation deaths despite a plethora of food security programs. What is going wrong? By Pradeep Baisakh
October 10, 2019 Employing the politics of solidarity against the rise of populism With the world facing increasing division and hatred, the human rights community must face this lack of compassion with solidarity. By Harsh Mander Español Français العربية
May 20, 2019 Using a business mindset to fund advocacy NGOs in Kyrgyzstan Shifting to a business mindset is hard for non-profit organizations, but with limited opportunities for funding in Central Asia, it is a change worth making. By Fatima Iakupbaeva Español Русский
April 24, 2019 Genocide is an act of state, and demands a response by other states The Myanmar state can and must be held accountable for the genocide being perpetrated against the Rohingya, a point lost in largely illusory efforts to pursue international ... By John Packer Français Rohingya العربية Español বাংলা Türkçe
January 15, 2019 What we can learn from feminists who fund themselves Now more than ever, feminist organizations need to deepen the search for autonomous resourcing models that work for our movements, on our own terms. By Tenzin Dolker Español Français
November 22, 2018 India’s Supreme Court is making landmark judgements in social change In the last few years, public interest litigation at India’s Supreme Court has brought significant wins for human rights—but success is best assured when litigation ... By Jayna Kothari Español
November 20, 2018 Tech companies’ inability to control fake news exacerbates violent acts In the absence of sufficient monitoring and ameliorative action on the part of the tech companies, fake news in Sri Lanka is provoking non-violent, law-abiding ... By Jennifer Easterday & Hana Ivanhoe
November 15, 2018 Citizen action pushes judicial recognition of gay rights in India The Indian Supreme Court’s landmark decision to declare unconstitutional a colonial-era law criminalizing same-sex relations shows majoritarian prejudices must ... By Suhrith Parthasarathy
November 6, 2018 Using the UN to advance LGBT rights in China China’s engagement in UN human rights reviews provides real opportunities to advance protection for LGBT rights, although advocates in China face many obstacles. By Yanzi Peng 简体中文
October 3, 2018 Malaysia’s punishment of lesbian couple highlights OIC rejection of LGBTQ rights Malaysia’s recent caning of a homosexual couple reflects a larger problem with the Organization of Islamic Cooperation’s (OIC) continued support for discriminatory ... By Robert C. Blitt العربية
July 12, 2018 UN’s approach inside Myanmar abandons human rights principles Although UN human rights bodies have criticized the persecution of the Rohingya, UN agencies inside Myanmar have been far too deferential to the authorities. By Liam Mahony
June 26, 2018 Climate Land Banks: addressing displacement in Myanmar and beyond Countries exposed to the worst impacts of climate change, like Myanmar, should consider establishing Climate Land Banks to meet the looming problem of massive climate ... By Scott Leckie မြန်မာဘာသာ
March 27, 2018 Collaborating across movements to fill funding gaps for women in Nepal Groups in Nepal working at the intersections of different issues such as indigenous women with disabilities, are largely invisible to funders—but cross-movement ... By Pratima Gurung Español
February 20, 2018 The activist balance: being both globally connected and locally rooted In the volatility in Asia's human rights situations, can rights defenders and organizations stay globally connected while remaining rooted in grassroots efforts? By Urantsooj Gombosuren & Marte Hellema Español
December 13, 2017 Protecting human rights defenders in Asia: using networks to fill the gaps Data on human rights violations in Asia proves the need to establish a network of protection mechanisms at the national, regional, and international level. By Lorenzo Urbinati & Sejin Kim Español
December 7, 2017 Religious rights advocacy won’t save the Rohingya—but what will? To insist on the Rohingya status as a victimized religious minority while ignoring other factors cements their position as outsiders, fueling exclusionary forms ... By Elizabeth Shakman Hurd မြန်မာဘာသာ
November 6, 2017 Climate change exacerbates gender inequality, putting women’s health at risk Climate change takes a higher toll on women than on men. Women’s health and well-being, including their sexual and reproductive health and rights are all at stake. By Hwei Mian Lim Español
October 10, 2017 Losing the battle for hearts and minds The battle for human rights—as seen in the treatment of Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar—may be losing ground as populist democracy becomes entrenched. By Stephen Hopgood Español
August 30, 2017 Indonesia at a threshold: reinventing the human rights movement Combined with growing fundamentalism and sectarianism, Indonesia once again is in dire need of a human rights movement for change. By Julius Ibrani & Marte Hellema Bahasa
July 27, 2017 Building communities to boost local fundraising Fundraising should never just be about money—it must also be about raising awareness of human rights and social justice. By Sadhana Shrestha Español नेपाली Français
June 13, 2017 ‘If I lose my freedom’: preemptive resistance to forced confessions in China Human rights defenders in China are increasingly using pre-recorded statements to control narratives to protect themselves against forced confessions. By Michael Caster 简体中文
May 9, 2017 To strengthen digital security for human rights defenders, behavior matters When approaching digital security for human rights defenders in hostile environments, we need to think more about practical behavior. By Michael Caster 简体中文 Español
April 26, 2017 Engage when we can, confront when we must Indian human rights workers do not want to engage with the police, but to enact real change, both sides must work together. By Navaz Kotwal
April 25, 2017 Engagement versus endorsement: Western universities in China The presence of Western universities in China is on the rise, but they are not following UN principles on corporate social responsibility. By Robert Edward Precht
March 23, 2017 Taking the battle for civic space online As online spaces become increasingly restricted, human rights activists must stay aware of the risks and benefits of technological developments. By Marte Hellema Español
March 15, 2017 To change torture practices, we must change the entire system Preventing torture goes beyond understanding individuals—it requires changing an entire system that allows for extreme violence. By Kiran Grewal
March 1, 2017 Working with the enemy: the pros and cons of collaborating with perpetrators What is the best way for human rights activists to engage with perpetrators? There are ethical and strategic reasons to focus on accountability over understanding, ... By Rachel Wahl Español हिन्दी
February 27, 2017 Modi and Trump - voting strongmen, voting hate Donald Trump’s win in the US and Narendra Modi’s in India two years ago are both about the majority claiming greater victimhood. By Zahir Janmohamed
February 22, 2017 Could volunteer-based CSOs be a model for practicing human rights in China? In China, new laws make fundraising even harder, but the LGBTQ community is getting creative. By Hou Ping Español 简体中文
December 6, 2016 State-owned enterprises in China could be an entry point for human rights To make headway on human rights in China, advocates need to get creative by partnering with state-owned enterprises. By Qian Cheng 简体中文
October 19, 2016 ICC will investigate environmental destruction as well as war crimes The ICC is now prioritizing crimes involving environmental destruction and land grabbing. How will this change economic development? By Richard J. Rogers Español
September 27, 2016 Dogs, pigs, and human rights: South Korea’s uproar A recent political uproar in South Korea has exacerbated the public’s diminishing trust in government officials. By Jeong-Woo Koo
July 25, 2016 In Asia, freedom of speech is critical in the fight for human rights Protecting freedom of speech, assembly and association in Asia is the lynchpin to protecting all human rights. By Henri Tiphagne & Marte Hellema
June 22, 2016 Human rights and the state: embracing and abandoning religion(s) The debate about whether a state should be religious or secular doesn’t always affect how a society treats religious minorities. By Peter Jacob
June 15, 2016 Self-interest argument for refugee admission backfires in Japan Japan fails to protect refugees—but arguing it should do so because its aging society needs new immigrants hasn’t worked. By Saul Takahashi 日本語
June 6, 2016 The Trans-Pacific Partnership: a missed opportunity for civil society? Civil society could have played a key role in the Trans-Pacific Partnership—why were they left out? By Mark Aspinwall Español
May 31, 2016 No middle ground: the risks of being a human rights defender in India Volunteers in India are banding together to form a network that protects human rights defenders. By Mathew Jacob
May 18, 2016 Beyond reconciliation and accountability: distributive justice and Sri Lanka's transitional agenda If the transitional justice process in Sri Lanka ignores the indignities of poverty and everyday precariousness, can we really call it “justice”? By Vijay Nagaraj
April 28, 2016 For Amnesty’s India office, raising local funds is all about membership Amnesty International’s India hub focuses most of its fundraising efforts on domestic contributions, facing challenges as diverse as the weather to brand recognition By Aakar Patel Español العربية
April 18, 2016 Are we being innovative in protecting civic space? Taking lessons from history’s best dissenters, civil society is finding new ways to make cracks in shrinking spaces. By Araddhya Mehtta Español
April 7, 2016 Activists in an international system: pushing for change in Sri Lanka Local and international activists have been crucial in getting a UN response in Sri Lanka. By Ruki Fernando
April 1, 2016 When international agendas trump the people’s demand for reform, no one wins As Sri Lanka moves on a new constitution and transitional justice process, it must prioritize local concerns of deepening economic inequalities over an international ... By Ahilan Kadirgamar & Swasthika Arulingam
February 25, 2016 Action on justice facilitates political solutions to conflict Taking decisive steps towards accountability will be critical to reconciliation in Sri Lanka before frustrations rise again. By Niran Anketell
February 13, 2016 Cambodian trials offer important lessons The trials in a special, internationally-backed Court in Cambodia of Khmer Rouge leaders offer important lessons to those pursuing accountability for crimes against ... By James A. Goldston
February 8, 2016 The politics of punishing war crimes in Sri Lanka Prioritising the punishment of war criminals in Sri Lanka over other measures to achieve reconciliation risks re-empowering the extremists and undermining the government’s ... By Ram Manikkalingam
January 28, 2016 Making the ASEAN Economic Community human rights-friendly The ASEAN Economic Community should insert human rights rules into its implementation plan before integrating the vast Southeast Asian market. By Haris Azhar Bahasa
January 20, 2016 Getting creative with local resource mobilization in Hong Kong To get funding amidst intense non-profit competition in Hong Kong, human rights groups must get creative. By Linda To Français
December 3, 2015 Mongolia’s economic crisis: an end to corporate social responsibility? Despite an economic crisis, some Mongolian companies still respond to carefully constructed funding requests. By Bolor Legjeem
August 10, 2015 In Myanmar, polls are the beginning of a larger conversation Many activists in Myanmar (Burma) are very skeptical of public opinion polling. But these polls are a key starting point for a larger conversation on democracy. By Kathy Frankovic မြန်မာဘာသာ
July 15, 2015 Crushing dissent: NGOs under threat in India Can NGOs and India’s political opposition stop Modi’s civil society clampdown? By Seema Guha
July 3, 2015 Public opinion on human rights is the true gauge of progress External, “objective” measures of South Korea’s human rights progress will only take us so far. What we need now are the opinions of the people. By Jeong-Woo Koo Español 한국어
June 11, 2015 Religion and rights in Bangladesh: maintaining a delicate balance Bangladeshi activists work around religious elements, sometimes even collaborating with them. The rise of religious groups, however, is becoming both a challenge ... By Mubin S. Khan বাংলা
June 2, 2015 Beyond accountability: the struggle for co-existence in Sri Lanka The promised report of a UN investigation into war crimes in Sri Lanka will achieve little unless accompanied by real introspection by both Tamil and Sinhala communities. By Ahilan Kadirgamar & Mahendran Thiruvarangan தமிழ் සිංහල
May 26, 2015 When internationalization causes more harm than good Focusing on the practicalities of internationalization neglects a vital and thorny question: is going global really in the interests of all rights groups? By Ram Mashru Español Français العربية
May 19, 2015 Government repression and bureaucratic hoops spell gloom for rights groups in Bangladesh Amidst tighter donor budgets for human rights, NGOs in Bangladesh are also grappling with increasingly intrusive governments. By Mubin S. Khan বাংলা
April 24, 2015 Small steps forward? International pressure and accountability for atrocities in Sri Lanka In countries like Sri Lanka – not party to the ICC – international pressure plays an important role in keeping a focus on the issue of accountability for mass atrocities. By Kate Cronin-Furman Español Français
April 21, 2015 Do-It-Yourself-Aid: alternative funding sources for rights work? Is “Do-It-Yourself-Aid” the answer to funding rights work? Anne-Meike Fechter describes this model, its funding and related implications By Anne Meike Fetcher Español
April 2, 2015 Decentralizing can make global human rights groups stronger NGO internationalization is now trendy, but ActionAid realized long ago that giving up power doesn’t mean having less power. By Adriano Campolina Español Français
February 17, 2015 Modi government cracks down on green NGOs India’s new Modi government trains its guns on environmental activists. By Prafu Bidwai
January 14, 2015 Religious conversions in India – keeping human rights at the core Religion is not only about belief but also about its capacity for human well-being. Therefore, human rights should be at the core of an individual’s right to evaluate ... By Siddharth Peter De Souza हिन्दी
December 1, 2014 Religion as a political game: rising intolerance in Indonesia Indonesia’s rising religious intolerance stems from a political pact struck between former president Bambang Yudhoyono and the country’s least tolerant Muslim groups. ... By Ahmad Sueady Bahasa
November 27, 2014 To end manual scavenging in India, Hindu religious leaders must speak up In India, Hindu religious leaders are reluctant to campaign loudly against the collection of raw sewage by oppressed communities, and this is slowing progress in ... By Seema Guha हिन्दी
November 26, 2014 Indonesia’s growing religious intolerance Although Indonesia has long been seen as a religiously moderate country, Sunni Muslim militants are attacking minority religious communities across the country. ... By Phelim Kine Bahasa
November 7, 2014 The surprising impact of the Rome Statute in India Though India refuses to join the ICC, the Rome Statute has proved very useful in pushing for law reform that would put an end to decades of impunity for state complicity ... By Usha Ramanathan हिन्दी
October 29, 2014 Focusing on women and transgenders in LGBT rights Nepal is the most open country in South Asia for LGBT rights, but even here, patriarchal biases exclude women and transgenders. Can foreign funding change this? By Nicola Desouza
August 29, 2014 Pure hypocrisy: India’s fear of foreign funding for NGOs The Indian state aggressively promotes foreign investment in all sectors but civil society. By Medha Patkar
June 29, 2014 In India, a pervasive paranoia blocks progress on human rights NGOs working with untouchables and bonded labour face hostility from upper castes. For these groups, it’s nearly impossible to raise local funds. Without foreign ... By Lenin Raghuvanshi
May 1, 2014 Starting at the top: why rights groups need to engage religious leaders For human rights to find resonance in the global South, we must connect them to the existing beliefs of the people by engaging religious leaders. Without this cultural ... By Parsa Venkateshwar Rao Jr
April 30, 2014 The politicization of Hindu faith in India Hinduism preaches tolerance, the Indian Constitution enshrines plurality. So why has divisive political communalism become acceptable, even electable, when disguised ... By Fr. Cedric Prakash Sj Español Français العربية
April 16, 2014 Human rights abuse in Burma and the role of Buddhist nationalism Myanmar is taking significant strides towards political and economic liberalization after decades of military dictatorship, yet a series of violent attacks against ... By Wai Yan Phone ภาษาไทย မြန်မာဘာသာ
April 15, 2014 The rights in Hinduism Contrary to popular perception, Hindu philosophies of moral agency, duty and universal truth cohabit with human rights values. By Arvind Sharma Español العربية
January 28, 2014 To raise funds, Indian rights groups must emulate the country’s newest political party Donations by ordinary citizens to India’s newest political party, the AAP, prove that Indians can and will donate to important causes. Indian rights groups can ... By Ajaz Ashraf
January 22, 2014 What's a funder to do? If international funding compromises the work of domestic human rights groups, what should international donors do? It is admirable for local groups to refuse international ... By Rachel Wahl
January 6, 2014 Funds and civil liberties Dependence on institutional funding has depoliticized, monetized and corrupted much of the human rights work in India. While state-control of human rights funds ... By V. Suresh हिन्दी
January 2, 2014 Building a domestic human rights constituency in India To fight the chilling effect created by new laws on foreign funding, Indian human rights NGOs need to develop support for funding among citizens. Though difficult, ... By Rita Jalali
November 26, 2013 Going local The Indian government uses the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act to block global support to NGOs that question the state. The FCRA must go, but meanwhile, civil ... By G. Ananthapadmanabhan
November 15, 2013 Now is the time to invest in China’s nascent rights groups Even as China grows in wealth, it has yet to fully develop a culture of philanthropy – one that is free and clear of government influence and able to effect real ... By William Nee 简体中文
November 12, 2013 Time to challenge India for its stranglehold on funding for rights organizations One of the country’s most informed human rights experts explains how India blocks foreign funding for rights work it doesn’t like. Philanthropists avoid supporting ... By Ravi Nair हिन्दी العربية Español