Respect of Freedom of Thought, Conscience, and Religion Essential to ASEAN Stability

Jakarta, 5 February 2015—A recent article of the Bangkok Post, “Faith and peace a good mix for Asean stability,” highlighted the HRRC’s latest research project, “Keeping the Faith: A Study of Freedom of Thought, Conscience, and Religion in ASEAN.” The article drew attention to the findings of the study, including the observation that in a religiously and ethnically diverse region like ASEAN, there is a close connection between religious freedom and peace and security. Thus, persecution and violations of religious freedom raise the risk of conflict that can threaten national and regional security.

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Darusman Meets with Japanese Minister to Discuss Abductions by North Korea and Other Human Rights Violations

Marzuki Darusman, member of the Commission of Inquiry (COI) tasked by the United Nations Human Rights Council to investigate human rights abuses in North Korea, met with Japanese minister Keiji Furuya on Wednesday morning, 9 April, to discuss North Korean abductions of Japanese citizens in the 1970s and 1980s.

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North Korea Commission of Inquiry to International Community: Bear the Responsibility to Protect the Population of the DPRK

The Commission of Inquiry (COI), tasked by the United Nations Human Rights Council on 21 March 2013 to investigate human rights abuses in North Korea, revealed its findings at a press conference in Geneva on Monday, 17 February. 

In its compelling 372-page report of detailed findings, the Commission found “reasonable grounds” to establish that crimes against humanity, meaning (1) intentional inhumane acts that (2) form part of a widespread or systematic attack, are committed with impunity in the DPRK and that these crimes are “based on decisions and policies approved at the highest level of the state.”[1]

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Memorandum of Understanding between HRRC and Gadjah Mada University signed on 30 May 2012 in Jakarta

The Memorandum of Understanding between Human Rights Resource Centre and Gadjah Mada University was signed on Wednesday, May 30th, 2012 in Jakarta by HRRC Executive Director, Mr. Marzuki Darusman and Prof. Marsudi Triatmodjo as the as the Dean of Faculty of Law Gadjah Mada University during the HRRC Regional Conference on Violation, Exploitation and Migration affecting Women and Children. 

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