Human Rights – SEAPA

[Regional] Declaration of Support for Strategic Regional Actions to Promote and Protect Media Freedom and Free Expression in Southeast Asia

2019/07/10 Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA) Civic Space, FOE, Free expression, Freedom of Expression, Human Rights, press freedom

Several organizations issue a joint declaration of support for a strategic regional actions to promote and protect media freedom and free expression in Southeast Asia.

Advocacy Cambodia From the Members Monitoring

[Cambodia] Three years and still no effective investigation into Dr. Kem Ley’s killing

2019/07/092019/07/09 Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA) end impunity, Human Rights, IDEI, Impunity, International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), International Day to End Impunity, Kem Ley, no impunity

Kem Ley’s killing remains an alarming reminder of Cambodia’s culture of impunity in cases of apparent enforced disappearances, killings and other forms of physical and legal harassment of human rights defenders, labour leaders, monks, journalists, members of the political opposition and other individuals critical of the ruling regime since the 1991 Paris Peace Accords. Kem Ley’s death also occurred in the midst of a crackdown on dissent, and rising restrictions on independent and critical media.

Monitoring Thailand

[Thailand] SEAPA calls on Thai authorities to pursue perpetrators of attacks against dissidents

2019/06/062019/06/06 Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA) Freedom of Assembly, Freedom of Expression, Human Rights

Three prominent Thai activists have been assaulted since May 2019, human rights group Human Rights Watch said. It urged Thai authorities to “urgently and impartially” investigate the assaults.

Advocacy Monitoring Regional

Weekly Media Roundup (6 – 12 April 2019)

2019/04/152019/04/15 Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA) Access to Information, campaign and elections, Cyber Attacks, democracy, Elections, Human Rights, Media Freedom, Online Freedom of Expression, press freedom, Syariah Penal Code

Some of the press freedom- and free expression-related events and issues you might have missed last week

Four organizations appeal to AICHR to take some concrete actions including the conduct of consultations with the relevant national authorities in Brunei Darussalam on the promotion and protection of human rights in the country. | Photo taken at the Metro Manila Pride March in 2018.

Advocacy Brunei Monitoring

[Brunei] Joint letter to AICHR: Urgent concern about the 2013 Syariah Penal Code

2019/04/122019/04/12 Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA) AICHR, ASEAN, ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Gender, gender expression, gender identity, Gender Rights, Human Rights, LGBTIQ+, sexual orientation, SOGIE

Four human rights organizations submitted Thursday, 11 April 2019, a joint letter to the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) expressing concern about the Brunei Darussalam’s 2013 Syariah Penal Code, provisions of which entered into force on 3 April 2019.

Alerts Monitoring Singapore

[Singapore] Activist in hot water for posting photo; alleged offense tantamount to ‘illegal assembly’

2019/03/042019/03/04 Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA) Free expression, Freedom of Expression, Human Rights, Jolovan Wham, public assembly

For posting a photo of himself holding a sign supportive of two fellow Singaporeans charged with criminal defamation, civil rights activist Jolovan Wham is under police investigation for another “illegal assembly.”

Advocacy Monitoring Regional

Weekly Media Roundup (26 January – 1 February 2019)

2019/02/042019/02/08 Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA) Access to Information, campaign and elections, digital rights, digital security, Elections, Ethics and Self Regulation, Human Rights, Media Freedom, Media Ownership, media sustainability, Online Freedom of Expression, press freedom

Some of the press freedom- and free expression-related events and issues you might have missed last week

Advocacy Monitoring Regional

Weekly Media Roundup (12 – 18 January 2019)

2019/01/212019/02/08 Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA) data privacy, data protection, data security, digital rights, Free expression, Freedom of Expression, Human Rights, journosafe, Media Freedom, Online Freedom of Expression, press freedom, Safety of Journalists

Some of the press freedom- and free expression-related events and issues you might have missed last week

Advocacy Features Regional

Dire state of freedom of expression in SEA mirrors global trend

2019/01/192019/02/21 Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA) Access to Information, campaign and elections, Elections, Free expression, Freedom of Expression, Human Rights, journosafe, Media Freedom, Online Freedom of Expression, press freedom, Safety of Journalists

The continuing rise of autocratic forces across the globe weakened checks and balances for democracy such as free media, civic groups, and an independent judiciary in 2018 – and Southeast Asia was no exception. These are documented in the newly released World Report 2019 of the Human Rights Watch (HRW).

Rappler CEO Maria Ressa speaks at a rally during the Black Friday protest on January 19, 2018, triggered by the revocation of the online news outlet's registration.

Advocacy Features Philippines

[Philippines] Duterte administration stepped up attacks against media, critics in 2018 — HRW

2019/01/172019/01/20 Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA) Human Rights, Philippines, press freedom

In its latest report released Thursday, 17 January 2019, the New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) decries the deteriorating human rights situation in the Philippines and its consequent impact, among others, on freedom of expression in the country.