Asia-Pacific Network Weekly Report (June 4) 1/2

Task 1: Weekly human rights monitoring

1. Near neighbours
a) Fiji
+ Amnesty International will be making oral statements on Fiji as Fiji appears before the UN Human
Rights Council for adoption of its final report on its UPR.
+ According to Fiji’s Government’s Road map for Democracy and Sustainable Socio-Economic
Development 2009-1014, consultation on its new constitution will commence by Sept 2012 and be
in place by Sept 2013.

b) Indonesia
Discrimination of disabled peoples (mental)
x Lack of mental health facilities has left Indonesia’s most severely mentally ill patients without
adequate care. IRIN reports that most are found chained or locked up in their homes by family
members further aggravating their illness.

c) Timor Leste
No urgent items

d) PNG
Customary Land Rights
x (June 1) – Indigenous PNG peoples have lost the right to challenge developments made by private
investors or the government on their land. PNG government has amended sections of the Environment
and Conservation Act 2000, which grants the Director of the Office of Environment and Conservation
discretion to grant licences relating to environmental plans submitted by investors and that any
licences issued by the Director is final and “may not be challenged or reviewed in any court or tribunal,
except at the instigation of an Authorization Instrument.”

2. Asia
a) Nepal – Right to protection against economic exploitation:
 (June 4) – Friends of Nepal (FNC) and Nepalese Youth Opportunity Foundation (NYOF) have
been working to rescue girl-children from child labour in the sex trade, domestic servants and
as indentured labourers.
b) Afghanistan – Right to protection
 (May 31) Afghani girls are sold as child brides, and flogged and/or imprisoned when they
escape from their forced marriages for “adultery crimes” (Reported by NYimes)
c) Philippines – Right to life
 (May 27) - 57 people were massacred last year when they travelled to file election papers for a
political rival of the Ampatuan family. Police have now charged 196 people in connection with
the massacres. However, NYTimes report that victims’ families and witnesses are being
intimidated to prevent them from testifying against the Ampatuan family.
d) Sri Lanka – Economic and social rights
 (May 28) – Sri Lankan President issued instructions to shut down the three remaining IDP
camps, which currently house 60000 people within the next three month. However, UNHCR
reports that unless and until the de-mining work is completed, it would be very dangerous to
repatriate IDPs home. According to the Swiss Foundation for Mine Action, de-mining efforts in
Sri Lanka have expanded dramatically but are facing funding pressures as finances have only
been secured until July/August. De-mining efforts require USD9million to continue within this
fiscal year.
e) Myanmar – Racial discrimination
 (June 4) – BBC reports that Burma’s Rohingya ethnic group, a Muslim minority is the most
persecuted community in the world. Made Stateless by the Junta government in 1982, and not
deemed as illegal immigrants by Bangladesh (refugees who have crossed the border).
Bangladesh has repatriated these illegal immigrants to Burma in contravention to the UN
Refugee Convention.
Asia-Pacific Network Weekly Report (June 4) 2/2

Task 2: Specialist
 Contacted Apolosi Bose (Fiji contact) who has responded.
 Contacted Veronica Herlina X Correia, Alola Foundation Trust (Timor Leste) but have yet to receive a response.
 Contacted Heather Barnes (UNIFEM SA Branch chair) concerning UNIFEM’s work in areas such as PNG, Timor
Leste.