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International Movement Against All Forms of Discrimination and Racism – Asia Committee (IMADR AC) expresses its condolences on the death of the Ven. Maduluwawe Sobitha Thero. The entire country mourns over the loss of Ven. Sobitha Thero. He left an indelible mark in the Sri Lankan society as a religious leader who pioneered a historic movement fearlessly calling us to uphold the rule of law, democracy and independence of judiciary heralding a new political culture in Sri Lanka. Venerable Sobitha denouncing religious and communal extremism has opened up the path for us to further his vision for religious and national reconciliation in the country. We as an organization committed to […]

– – – Message from the CERD team – – – Dear Friends and Colleagues, For half a century, the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD) has been the key international instrument in the fight against racism. This year, ICERD turns 50, and we want to take the opportunity to celebrate and promote the work ICERD has done and will continue to do. Festivities begin today 26 October 2015, with the launch of the “50 years of fighting racism” anniversary webpage: www.ohchr.org/icerd50.  The page features information about ICERD, as well as cards that can be downloaded, printed and sent out via email (or traditional snail mail) […]

On Monday 21st of September, International Movement Against All Forms of Discrimination and Racism (IMADR), jointly with All Okinawa Council, Shimin Gaikou Centre and Franciscans International held a side event on “Militarization and Human Rights Violations in Okinawa, Japan”. The event was highlighted by the special report of Mr. Onaga Takeshi, Governor of Okinawa, and the comment from Ms. Victoria Tauli-Corpuz, UN Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples . Experts from Japan contributed to the discussion including Mr. Hideaki Uemura, President of Shimin Gaikou Centre, Mr. Hideki Yoshikawa, environmental activist, and Mr. Yoshikazu Shiohira, Chief Editor of the Ryukyu Shimpo Newspaper. The first part of the event started with […]

With invitation by IMADR Latin America Base and its partners, Bishop Gunnar Johan Stålset, a member of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, visited Argentina from 7th to 10th September. At the panel on “Universal Culture of Peace and Human Security – Peace as a Human Right” held in the Siglo XXI National University, Bishop Stålsett delivered his insightful presentation on the right to peace. The whole text of his presentation can be read below or download here  ——— Dr. Gunnar Stålsett. Bishop em of Oslo Universal Culture of Peace and Human Security – Peace as a Human Right. Is it a human right to live in peace? Surprisingly, today it is not. But it should be. On the […]

IMADR delivered its oral statement on “Dalit rights in new Constitution in Nepal and human rights violations in Ryukyu/Okinawa” at the 30th session of the Human Rights Council. Whole text can be read below or downloaded here. ——— IMADR Oral Statement: 30th session of the Human Rights Council Item 4: General Debate 22 September 2015 Thank you Mr. President, We join Feminist Dalit Organisation of Nepal (FEDO) to express disappointment in the new Constitution of Nepal which just came into force last Sunday. Dalit communities repeatedly demanded the Government and Constituent Assembly (CA) to include provisions to increase the political participation of Dalit people and protect and promote their rights. […]

Together with All-Okinawa Council and Shimin Gaikou Centre, IMADR submitted a written statement on “Human Rights Violations in Okinawa, Japan” at the 30th session of the Human Rights Council. Whole text can be read below or downloaded here. ——— Human Rights Violations in Okinawa, Japan 1. The biggest problem in Ryukyu/Okinawa right now is the construction of a new military base in Henoko, Nago City. The Ryukyuan/Okinawan people, which is internationally recognized as an indigenous people1, has democratically expressed their strong opposition by electing politicians who are against the new base construction on local, prefectural and national levels as well as conducting sit-in protests in Henoko. 2.  Okinawa, situated between […]

Together with All Okinawa Council, Franciscans International and Shimin Gaikou Centre, IMADR is holding a side event on “Militarization and Human Rights Violations in Okinawa, Japan” at the 30th session of the Human Rights Council from 11 am, Monday 21 September at Room XXIV in Palais des Nations. For further information, click on the flyer below.    

Japan NGO Network for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (ERD Net) submitted its follow-up report to the the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) . In August 2014, the Committee examined the periodic reports of Japan and requested information on the State party’s follow-up to the following recommendations in the concluding observations : Violence against foreign and minority women; Comfort women; and Situation of the Burakumin. To help the Committee to assess the State party’s measures on the issues above, the ERD Net evaluated developments regarding the follow-up recommendations. Download the report from here  or by clicking the image below. *Click the image to read/ download the report

On the last day of the 87th session, UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) adopted the concluding observations of Colombia, Costa Rica, Niger, Suriname, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Czech Republic, Norway and the Netherlands. *Recommendations with asterisks [*] are follow-up recommendations Concluding observations, the reports of the State parties and other stakeholders are available at the OHCHR website . You can also watch the video archives of the public meetings with the State parties at UN Treaty Body Webcast  The Committee announced that it will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Convention on 26th November 2015 . _ Colombia The Committee raised various issues concerning indigenous peoples and Afro-Colombians, including exploitation of […]

Together with Women’s Political Academy Sri Lanka (WPASL) , an initiative in improving capacity of women politicians/ aspirants in the country, IMADR Asia Committee  has closely observed and documented election-related violence in the run up to the parliamentary election on Aug 17, 2015. Download the reports: Summary Report of Pre-Election Violence Monitoring (IMADR-AC, Women’s Political Academy Sri Lanka (WPASL), 2015)  Summary of Incidents in the Parliamentary General Election 2015 (IMADR-AC, Women’s Political Academy Sri Lanka (WPASL), 2015)  Electoral violence involves use of power with an intent to harm, damage persons or property in the electoral process. Forms of violence is designed to coerce participation or change vote choices, eliminate candidates, disrupt the process or negate votes in certain […]