The Online Citizen Asia

Democracy Report 2023 by V-Dem Institute shows hope in reversing democratic backsliding in small countries, including those in Southeast Asia, but notes nine countries in the region have declined substantially.

Human Rights Lawyer M Ravi is appealing for public support after the Singapore Attorney General rejected the request to waive the adverse personal cost of S$11,400 ordered against Ms Violet Netto and himself in the representation of three death row inmates. They have till 14 March to raise the sum to pay the Attorney-General's Chambers.

On International Women's Day, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) calls for the immediate and unconditional release of imprisoned women journalists throughout the world, and sounds the alarm about the disappearance of women journalists from the Afghan media landscape.

UN finds Philippines violated WWII sexual slavery victims' rights. The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women said the Philippine government breached its obligations by failing to address ongoing discrimination against the victims. The government waived its right to compensation after signing the Treaty of Peace with Japan. The Committee requested full reparation, including compensation, and an official apology. The case has renewed attention on wartime sexual slavery, with activists calling for more support for the victims and addressing ongoing discrimination. Similar cases have been filed by comfort women survivors in other countries, including South Korea.

Southeast Asian parliamentarians are urging the international community to take swift action against the illegal military junta in Myanmar. Following a roundtable discussion in Jakarta, the parliamentarians stressed that the humanitarian catastrophe caused by the junta's atrocities is of gigantic proportions, with hundreds of thousands of people displaced from their homes. APHR Chair Mercy Barends called on ASEAN to apply strong pressure to isolate the Myanmar military, and parliamentarians urged the international community to recognize the National Unity Government and the Committee Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw as the legitimately elected representatives of the people of Myanmar.

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA — Lawmakers from Southeast Asia are urging the new Malaysian government to repeal laws that they say are too often used...

The Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI) has come under fire for extending an invitation to the Myanmar National Human Rights Commission...

This past Saturday (18 Feb), over 120 people gathered at an event to pay tribute to the thousands of political detainees victimised by Singapore's...

SG Mental Health Matters (SGMHM) was founded in 2020 by a group of friends and volunteers with the aim to conduct a public consultation...