Asia

Asia has joined the discussion and adoption of national legislation later than the Americas and Africa, and has done so mostly since 2017 (with the exception of initial discussions in Nepal around 2009). The first law passed as such in the region was in Mongolia (2021).

As of mid-2021, the list of countries with protection policies in Asia is as follows:

  • Law in force: Mongolia
  • Decree or sub-national regulation: Afghanistan, India, Pakistan
  • Discussions in force: Philippines, Thailand
  • Previous debates, not currently taken up: Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Nepal
Philstar
2023
For the third time in nearly two decades, a bill seeking to protect human rights defenders and punish acts of...
United Nations Development Programme
2023
United Nations Development Programme. September 27, 2023 UNDP conducted a study on “the Protection of Human Rights Defenders (HRDs)” at...
Philippine Daily Inquirer
2023
A bill that prevents the government from freezing funds donated to human rights workers has been filed in the Senate...
The Asia Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institutions
2023
An introductory guide for NHRI leaders; describes the nature of NHRIs and requirements of NHRI leadership. Available in Arabic, English...
Internationl Service for Human Rights
2022
“On 17 January 2022, the House of Representatives adopted House Bill No. 10576, known as the Human Rights Defenders Act,...
Rappler
2022
In the Philippines, two proposals on the protection of human rights defenders are pending. As stated in the attached article:...
Protection International
2022
In April 2021, the Mongolian Parliament adopted a new law for human rights defenders, making it the first country in...
Bir Kirpish
2022
In Kazakhstan, a draft law for a national protection mechanism for human rights defenders was developed by civil society actors....
2021
On the 1st of July 2021, the Law on the Legal Status of Human Rights Defenders entered into force in...
Protection International
2021
Protection International reached out to our experts on the ground to provide a brief overview of policies and institutions in...
Protection International
2021
Although the situation of human rights defenders (HRDs or defenders) in Indonesia remains as dire as the policies in place...
International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH)
2021
The threats, harassment, intimidation and attacks against human rights defenders, activists, journalists and media workers in Afghanistan must end –...
The Himalayan
2021
In February 2021, the Nepalese Ministry of Home affairs adopted the ‘Order on Security and Protection of Human Rights Activists”....
Senate of the Philippines
2021
On the 18th of February 2021, the Bill 1699, or the Act to Promote and Protect the Rights of Human...
International Service for Human Rights
2021
During the third Universal Periodic Review of Mongolia, the Human Rights Forum of Mongolia and ISHR call on the Government...
Philippine Commission On Human Rights
2021
The Commission on Human Rights joins the clamor to prioritize the passage of the Human Rights Defenders (HRD) Protection Bill...
Montsame
2021
“At its plenary session dated April 1, Parliament of Mongolia, the State Great Khural, adopted a Law on Legal Status...
Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner
2021
GENEVA (18 March 2021) – A UN expert today called on the Philippine Congress to prioritise the passage of legislation...
President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan
2020
On the 3rd of December 2020, the government of Afghanistan appointed a Joint Commission for the Protection of Human Rights...
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan
2020
KABUL – As per the decree of the President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, and to strengthen human rights...