Southeast Asia: New ICJ report highlights discriminatory online restrictions against LGBT people

Southeast Asia: New ICJ report highlights discriminatory online restrictions against LGBT people

The authorities in Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand should immediately reform laws, policies and practices that have led to violations of the right of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and gender diverse (LGBT) persons to safely and freely express themselves and access information online, the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) said in a new report launched today.

The 50-page report, Silenced But Not Silent: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Persons’ Freedom of Expression and Information Online in Southeast Asia, documents the restrictions and barriers LGBT individuals face to safely and freely express themselves and access information online in Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand.

Nepal: International Commission of Jurists welcomes Supreme Court order on registration of marriage between same sex partners

Nepal: International Commission of Jurists welcomes Supreme Court order on registration of marriage between same sex partners

The ICJ hails the interim order made by the Supreme Court (SC) of Nepal on 28 June 2023 directing the establishment of a “transitional mechanism ensuring the marriage registration of same-sex couples and non-heterosexual couples”. The organization urges the government of Nepal to promptly implement the order by setting up an effective mechanism for registration of such marriages.

Vietnam: Stop the arbitrary arrest and detention of environmental human rights defenders

Vietnam: Stop the arbitrary arrest and detention of environmental human rights defenders

Today, the ICJ and nine other human rights and environmental organizations express grave concern over the recent arbitrary arrest, detention, and silencing of several environmental human rights defenders (EHRDs) speaking out against harmful business operations supported by the government.

The arrest of environmentalist Hoang Thi Minh Hong, her husband and two staff members on 31 May 2023 on trumped-up charges of tax evasion is just another case in the increased targeting of EHRDs in Vietnam. 

Southeast Asia: governments must act to counter abusive lawsuits brought by businesses targeting human rights and public interest advocates (SLAPPs)

Southeast Asia: governments must act to counter abusive lawsuits brought by businesses targeting human rights and public interest advocates (SLAPPs)

“Business enterprises continue to use their clout to nullify the work of human rights and public interest advocates through abusive lawsuits (SLAPPs) and far more needs to be done by governments to protect against this practice,” said the panelists during the forum titled ‘Addressing SLAPPs Against Human Rights Defenders in South-East Asia: Challenges and Lessons Learned’ on 9 June 2023.

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