On the two-year anniversary of Myanmar military coup, stronger ASEAN and UN action is needed
Photo by Pyae Sone Htun on Unsplash. Free to use under the Unsplash License. Yesterday marked two years since the military coup in Myanmar, which overthrew the democratically elected government – the National Unity Government (NUG) – and plunged the country into chaos and violence. Since then, the military has committed atrocity crimes against the Myanmar […]
Laos: After 10 years, civil society worldwide is still asking: “Where is Sombath?”
Sombath Somphone during a press conference in Manila, Philippines on August 2005. Photo: EPA/ROLEX DELA PENA 13 December 2022 Ahead of the 10-year anniversary of the enforced disappearance of Lao civil society leader Sombath Somphone, we, the undersigned civil society organizations and individuals, renew calls on the Lao government to determine his fate and whereabouts […]
Women Human Rights Defenders in Thailand Advocate for Care Income Amendment
On 29 November at the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre (BACC), the Women Human Rights Defenders Collective in Thailand organized an event to mark the 2022 International Women Human Rights Defenders (WHRDs) Day with the presence of representatives from various networks. It was a space for discussion about the importance and value of work contributed […]
457 civil society organizations call on ASEAN to move beyond the Five-Point Consensus on Myanmar
To: ASEAN Leaders H.E. Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, Prime Minister of Brunei Darussalam H.E. Hun Sen, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia H.E. Joko Widodo, President of the Republic of Indonesia H.E. Thongloun Sisoulith, Prime Minister of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic H.E. Dato’ Sri Ismail Sabri bin Yaakob, Prime Minister of […]
Human Rights Defenders File Civil Case Against Thai Authorities for Overly Repressive Use of Covid-19 Laws
On the morning of 26 May 2022, a group of Thai human rights defenders held a demonstration in front of the Government House of Thailand in Bangkok in protest against the proposals of additional laws to curb freedom of association and the right to peaceful assembly. They called upon authorities to stop wrongfully using COVID-19 […]
Thai Civil Case on Disinformation and Smear Campaigns Against WHRDs Rescheduled
On 10 and 11 May 2022, the Bangkok Civil Court held the first hearing for the case that human rights defenders Angkhana Neelapaijit and Anchana Heemina filed against Thailand’s Office of the Prime Minister and the Royal Army. During the witness examination, Neelapaijit and several other witnesses gave evidence to prove that government officials have […]
PI Signs Joint Letter to US President on Thailand’s Abusive Draft Law on Not-For-Profit Organisations
President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. The White House Washington, DC Re: Thailand’s abusive draft law on not-for-profit organizations Dear President Biden, We, the undersigned non-profit organizations, are writing to express our serious concerns regarding Thailand’s Draft Act on the Operations of Not-for-Profit Organizations, which the Thai Cabinet approved in principle on January 4, 2022. Passage […]
Interview with HRD Sukhgerel Dugersuren
Human Rights Defender & Director of OT Watch Mongolia In April 2021, the Mongolian Parliament adopted a new law for human rights defenders, making it the first country in Asia to provide a framework of protection for those who speak out against human rights violations and advocate for change. The law entered into force on […]
IWD2022: Interview with Pranom Somwong
International Women’s Day Interview with Pranom Somwong In November 2021, we asked some of the women human rights defenders working for Protection International (PI) about their experiences, passions and visions for a better future. Now, to mark International Women’s Day (8 March) and to celebrate the extraordinary work of women we translated our interviews with […]
Attempted Murder Conviction of High-Profile HRD Case is Shockingly Overturned
Impunity Reigns as the Overall Security of Land Rights Defenders in Thailand is Further Undermined The Wiang Sra Provincial Court of Surat Thani in Thailand just issued its verdict from the Region 8 Court of Appeals, acquitting the suspect in the attempted murder case against Mr Dam On-muang, land rights defender and member of The […]