(Photo by Dave Kendall)Repression is rampant in Thailand and across Asia, and human rights defenders face harassment, jail and even death, according to a new report by the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (Forum-Asia). "In Asia, we are witnessing more and more human rights defenders being subjected to increasingly severe forms of violations, particularly killings, simply for defending human rights," said Sejin Kim, Forum-Asia's Programme Manager. "Violations have become more extreme, and the safe spaces in which human rights defenders can work have increasingly shrunk." Ms Pranom echoed the report's finding that many human rights defenders are women, and face an additional burden. It might deter perpetrators and it can motivate and inform human rights defenders, especially those not well-connected and in remote areas, that they are not alone."

Source: Bangkok Post June 01, 2019 01:18 UTC