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Category: ANNI Events

  • [Event] Supporting war criminals: How the largest global human rights network is legitimizing the illegal military junta in Myanmar

    Supporting war criminals: How the largest global human rights network is legitimizing the illegal military junta in Myanmar
    Civil society networks working to strengthen the promotion and protection of national human rights institutions will hold an online press conference

     

    When: Monday 27 February 2023, 14:30 – 15:30 Yangon Time (GMT+6:30)
    Registration: bit.ly/3KpA92i

    One of the largest human rights networks worldwide, the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI), which is a partner of the United Nations with a Head Office in Geneva, Switzerland, has invited representatives of the Myanmar military junta to its 2023 Annual Meeting. The GANHRI’s Annual Meeting will be held in person in Geneva at the UN on 14 – 16 March 2023.
    Over two years since the 1 February 2021 failed coup, the Myanmar military has committed grave crimes, including war crimes and crimes against humanity with total impunity. Over 3,000 people have been killed by the military junta and nearly 20,000 people arrested. Since 2021, the Myanmar junta has been utilizing international platforms to promote its propaganda to legitimize its illegal attempts to grab power. The Myanmar National Human Rights Commission (MNHRC), which has since February 2021 been under the control of the illegal junta and is likely to attend the meeting, has acted as an agent of the military, representing the interests of the illegitimate military junta and advancing the junta’s propagandas at regional national human rights institution’s meetings and conferences.

    The CSO Working Group on Independent National Human Rights Institution (Burma/Myanmar) and the Asian NGO Network on National Human Rights Institutions (ANNI) will hold a press conference to highlight the concerns of civil society. We will also launch an analysis paper “Accessory to the Junta’s Crimes” which evaluates the MNHRC’s actions and complicity in the junta’s failed coup in the context of Myanmar’s Spring Revolution. The panelists will discuss why GANHRI’s invitation to the junta has serious repercussions for the people of Myanmar and what actions GANHRI can take to correct its course.

    Speakers:

    •  Khin Ohmar, Founder and Chairperson of Advisory Board, Progressive Voice
    •  Shanna Priangka Ramadhanti, Coordinator, Asian NGO Network on National Human Rights Institutions (ANNI)
    •  Zee Pe, Director, Athan – Freedom of Expression Activist Organization

    This post was originally published on FORUM-ASIA.

  • [Event Highlight] ANNI South Korea Report Launch

    On 16 November 2022, the Asian NGO Network on National Human Rights Institutions (ANNI), together with the Korean House for International Solidarity, launched the South Korean chapter of the  ANNI Report 2020 on the Performance of National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) in Seoul, South Korea. A panel discussion took place during the launch with representatives of ANNI, KHIS, the South Korean Non-Governmental Organizations Task Force to Monitor Government Human Rights Policy (“HR Policy TF”), and NHRCK. The panel discussion was also moderated by Prof Nohyun Kwak, former Secretary-General for NHRCK and currently one of the advisers of ANNI.

    Background

    The launch and discussion of the South Korean chapter came at a crucial time for both NHRCK and civil society organizations. The NHRCK received an “A” status from the Sub-Committee on Accreditation of the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (“GANHRI-SCA”) in 2021 and was elected as the Chairperson of the Asia Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institutions (APF) in September 2022. However, there remain issues regarding the functioning and performance of the Commission. Critical observations on NHRCK are documented in the ANNI Report and by the GANHRI-SCA, especially on the selection and appointment of Commissioners and the independence from the Government.

    Issues Discussed

    Speakers critically engaged on the issue of the selection and appointment process of the NHRCK. The NHRCK has received continuous recommendations from civil society and GANHRI-SCA in amending its founding law on the selection and appointment process, specifically in creating a single selection committee. Currently, the Act states that the President shall appoint Commissioners nominated by the President, National Assembly, and the Supreme Court. However, no rules or laws provide a single consistent formalized selection process used by the three institutions. While the previous Government attempted to make such a selection committee, many details needed to be ironed out, and the discussions eventually dragged on. Unfortunately, the discussion has fizzled out with the incumbent Government.

    The speakers’ remarks also revealed the lack of engagement with broader civil society. In 2018, there was a positive development where the President’s office engaged civil society organizations in providing the nomination of commissioners. Eventually, this led to the first female and non-lawyer chairperson for NHRCK. Unfortunately, such engagements have regressed, and civil society organizations are no longer involved in the other appointments of commissioners. Hence, there is a strong call made by civil society to not only meaningfully participate in the selection process but also ensure that these groups are diverse and promote human rights under international standards. 

    The issue of independence also arises in the discussion. Based on a survey regarding the public’s perception of NHRCK, the majority sees NHRCK as a body that is not adequately independent from the Government. This means that NHRCK has been affected by the changes in the Government’s political climate, shown in the selection and appointment process. Speakers believe that the current selection and appointment process involving highly political bodies within the Government does not ensure the Commission in having Commissioners who would be able to ensure human rights in the Country and exercise independent thinking and leadership.

    At the end of the session, participants and speakers mentioned that the human rights situation in South Korea is regressing, and civil society is expecting that it will continue to relapse in the upcoming years. Despite such views, speakers have reminded the resilience and persistence of civil society in South Korea in advocating for human rights and its independent Commissions such as NHRCK. One speaker spoke of the time in 2000 when civil society camped outside NHRCK and conducted a hunger strike protesting against having NHRCK be under the Ministry of Justice and in 2008 when civil society camped out again protesting against the appointment of the Chairperson. 

    The NHRCK has been considered a model national human rights institution in Asia and a country respected for its democratic transformation and economic prosperity. Despite the challenges in strengthening the NHRCK, all speakers and participants see there is a need, more than ever, for the NHRCK to be able to independently and effectively implement it with the hope that it would contribute to improving the human rights situation in South Korea. 

     

    This post was originally published on FORUM-ASIA.

  • [Event] Report Launch: Making Institutions Count: Strengthening Support for Women Human Rights Defenders (WHRDs) in Asia by National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs)

    Date: Thursday, 26 April 2022

    Time: 11.00 – 12.30 (GMT+7)

    Register here: l.forum-asia.org/WHRDReportLaunch

    Live via: Zoom, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter

    Across the Asian region, women human rights defenders (WHRDs) have been at the forefront of struggles and movements for securing and advancing human rights for all. While WHRD-led movements have gained traction in recent years, they have been strongly impacted by increasingly repressive and authoritarian political environments. Threats and reprisals against WHRDs have come from both state and non-state actors, and gender-based violence and abuse against them are particularly prevalent.

    WHRDs require greater support and recognition by all stakeholders, including National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs), with gender-specific responses and protection measures to create a safe and enabling environment.

    Recognising their challenges, the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA), as the Secretariat of the Asian NGO Network on National Human Rights Institutions (ANNI), and the Asia Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institutions (APF), is launching a thematic report “Making Institutions Count: Strengthening Support for WHRDs in Asia by NHRIs”.

    Join the discussion on NHRI-led advocacy challenges and milestones on protecting WHRDs in this event.

    Speakers: 

    • Karen Gomez-Dumpit, Commissioner, Commission on Human Rights, Philippines
    • Vita Yudhani, Advocacy Officer, The Institute for Policy Research and Advocacy (ELSAM)
    • Ambika Satkunanathan, Fellow, Open Society Foundations; and Former Commissioner, Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka
    • Kieren Fitzpatrick, Director, Asia Pacific Forum (APF)

    Moderated by: Shomira Sanyal, NHRI Programme, FORUM-ASIA

     

    This post was originally published on FORUM-ASIA.