Marte Hellema

The rights to freedom of expression and religion are both essential components of a vibrant and pluralistic democracy. There are long-held laws that guarantee these freedoms in Asia. However, the way they are interpreted and used, is causing life-threatening situations in many countries. Recent years have seen increasing intolerance and… »

In 2016 the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) celebrates its 25 year anniversary. 25 years of promoting and protecting human rights. This is both a reason for celebration and reflection. To reflect on what we have done, what lessons we have learnt, and what we see as… »

‘I stand before you humble and a little sad that it is I who is here to receive this Special Award for Human Rights’, said Shui Meng Ng, wife of Sombath Somphone upon accepting the 2015 Gwangju Special Award for Human Rights in Gwangju, South Korea last Monday on the… »

By Marte Hellema and Joses Kuan* As the world responds to the guilty verdict of Amos Yee, thoughts should not just focus on how a 16-year-old ended up in this predicament, but on what it says about the state of affairs in Singapore today. Yee was found guilty of two… »

Coming Sunday the 21st September will be the International Day of Peace. Since last year the world has become less peaceful again – see the Global Peace Index 2014 – and developments in places like Ukraine, Syria and Libya do not make one optimistic for the coming years. Central to… »

Even though the elections in the Solomon Islands of 2010 were relatively violence free, the scars of the riots of 2006 are still fresh. Now with new elections expected to take place in October or November of this year, there are strong reasons to fear violence will disrupt the electoral… »

On Saturday April 5, Afghans will gear up for their tryst with history by taking part in elections. This presidential election is by far the most significant event in 2014 in Afghanistan, and possibly one of the most important in the contemporary history of the country. Evidently, Afghan leaders throughout… »

By Mauricio Salazar* and Marte Hellema** On February 6, 2013, as part of the debate on the Post-2015 Development Agenda process, the Eighth Session of the Open Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals will take place. Issues for discussion will include, among others, conflict prevention, post-conflict… »

With his second term in office, Prime Minister Abe Shinzo of Japan and members of his administration have outlined a vision for Japan’s foreign and security policy based on ‘pro-active pacifism’. In his address to the UN General Assembly in September 2013, Abe elaborated that he “will make Japan a… »

Bangladesh is in turmoil. 2013 saw protests and violence, making it one of the bloodiest years since its independence. With the highly criticized elections, arrests of political opposition members and even more casualties, 2014 has not gotten off to a good start either. The international community, in particular the US,… »