Human Rights
Ending Supply-Chain Slavery: Is Asia Ready?
February 27, 2019
Blog Post
More than 40 million people are victims of modern-day slavery. Two-thirds of them are in Asia, and most of them toil in industries deeply embedded in global supply chains. But a growing international movement is calling businesses to account for human rights, and supply-chain transparency is the new frontline in this ongoing battle. Supply-chain sl… Read more
Nepal Human Rights: Too Many Cooks?
October 24, 2018
Blog Post
How many national human rights institutions (NHRIs) does it take to protect human rights? Are the rights of disparate groups better protected by multiple, specialized agencies, or is a single institution with a broad mandate more efficient and effective? The framers of Nepal’s 2015 Constitution opted overwhelmingly for multiple, specialized NHRIs…. Read more
Tackling the Backlog in Pakistan’s Courts
August 29, 2018
Blog Post
In his old age, a longstanding property dispute became the bane of Abdul Hamid Khan’s existence. The father of four sons and three daughters in Punjab’s Rahimyar district, Khan had been left, like Shakespeare’s King Lear, without a roof over his head. It was a dispute over land inheritance. In 2010, Khan transferred all his property, some 16 acres,… Read more
Forced Labor and Child Trafficking in India’s Garment Sector
September 20, 2017
Blog Post
The International Labour Organization (ILO) reports that 168 million children worldwide are considered child laborers. This means that almost 11 percent of the world’s children are working, which interferes with their ability to get an education, and jeopardizes their safety and their ability to experience childhood. The largest number of laborers… Read more
Alternative Dispute Resolution: A Paradigm Shift in Pakistan’s Justice System?
July 26, 2017
Blog Post
According to the World Justice Project’s latest Rule of Law Index, Pakistan ranks near the bottom in its ability to ensure protection of fundamental rights and advancing civil and criminal justice. Beyond the impact that this has on citizens, the challenges facing Pakistan’s justice system also impede economic development and drive inequality. Now… Read more
Can a New Law Help Timor-Leste’s Land Rights Crisis?
January 18, 2017
Blog Post
Voters in Timor-Leste will head to the polls twice this year—for presidential elections in March and parliamentary elections in July—in what will be the first such elections to be held since the UN Mission departed in 2012. The next government will be faced with dwindling oil reserves and the urgent need to switch from a petroleum fund-based econom… Read more
India’s New Anti-Human Trafficking Law: What You Need to Know
June 8, 2016
Blog Post
Human trafficking in India has reached a crisis level. A prominent headline in The Hindu last week declared ”An unsavory fact: India tops global slavery index.” A U.S. State Department report estimates that up to 65 million people were trafficked into forced labor, both into and within India. More recently, research reveals that India has the highe… Read more
New App Provides Nepali Migrant Workers with Safe Migration Information
May 25, 2016
Blog Post
At Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan Airport, young men and women snake through the international terminal, waiting their turn to begin what could be the world’s longest commute to work. More than 1,500 people depart the country in this way every day, mostly bound for temporary jobs as construction workers, domestic servants, or low- and medium-skill laborers… Read more
Philippines Marks First Disability-Inclusive Elections
May 25, 2016
Blog Post
The May 9 Philippine election not only set a new record for voter turnout, it also marked the first time that Republic Act 10366 – which mandates that polling stations be fully accessible for people with disabilities (PWDs) – was implemented in full. In his speech during the proclamation of senators-elect, the Philippine Commission on Elections (CO… Read more
A Conversation with Writer and Activist Ma Thida on Post-Election Myanmar
March 23, 2016
Blog Post
The Asia Foundation recently hosted a panel discussion in Washington, D.C., focused on changes underway in post-election Myanmar, which included the Foundation’s country representative in Myanmar, Kim Ninh, along with Ma Thida, noted human rights activist, surgeon, and writer.
Where Are India’s Working Women?
March 9, 2016
Blog Post
India is one of the youngest countries in the world, with a significant segment of its 1.2 billion population in the age group of 20-35. By 2020, it is estimated that the average age in the country will be 29. For an economy that is growing at an annual rate of 7 percent…
Asia’s Biggest Issues in 2016? Experts Weigh In
January 6, 2016
Blog Post
In the last year, Asia experienced both highs and lows: historic elections in Myanmar and Sri Lanka, devastating earthquakes in South Asia, booming growth in India and slumping economies in China and Mongolia, anti-government protests in Malaysia, South Korea, and beyond, aging populations juxtaposed with unprecedented youth bulges…
Local Pathways to Disability-Inclusive Governance in Indonesia
December 16, 2015
Blog Post
“Nothing About Us Without Us” has become a familiar slogan used by the international disability movement and relies on the principle of full participation for all. However, in Indonesia, where people with disabilities (PWDs) still face enormous barriers…
Signs of Hope for Pakistan’s Religious Minorities
December 9, 2015
Blog Post
The last few years have seen some of the most brutal attacks against Pakistan’s religious minority communities, estimated to make up approximately 3-5 percent of the total population of over 190 million.
New Study Reveals Patterns of Violence Against Women in Timor-Leste
December 9, 2015
Blog Post
Asia’s newest country, Timor-Leste, boasts one of the highest rates of female parliamentarians in the region and has made a number of important legislative advances in recent years on domestic violence.
Social Media Ignites Disability Movement in Indonesia
December 9, 2015
Blog Post
In Indonesia, stigma around people with disabilities often comes from those closest to them. In many cases, families hide away their disabled family members, communities shun them, and government services and policies…
Leading Disability Advocate Examines Draft Disability Law in Indonesia
December 2, 2015
Blog Post
Like many countries, Indonesia is accelerating efforts to implement its commitment as a 2011 signatory to the International Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities (CRPD), particularly as the newly minted 2030 Sustainable Development Goals…
Registration Symbolizes First Step in Integrating MILF in Philippines Electoral Process
March 11, 2015
Blog Post
It was an admirable effort. On March 7, the Commission on Elections (COMELEC), understaffed with just four commissioners left after the retirement of Chairman Sixto Brillantes, held a symbolic special satellite voter registration of Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) members and their families….
Watch: Securing Property Rights in the Philippines
February 11, 2015
Blog Post
Over 12 million families in the Philippines do not own the rights to their own homes, and without legal ownership, homeowners cannot secure a loan or hand down a property to their children. “The issue of property rights is central to both economic development and political development…
Cambodia Steps up as Regional Role Model for Preventing Violence Against Women
February 4, 2015
Blog Post
Propelled by the leadership of the Ministry of Women’s Affairs, Cambodia is emerging as a regional, if not global, role model for advocating prevention of violence against women. Today, major gender-responsive policies are being produced, including the 2nd National Action Plan to Prevent Violence against Women…
Reversing the Legacy of Injustice in Thailand’s Conflict-Ravaged South
January 21, 2015
Blog Post
In the book, Voices of Hope: Stories of Women in Peace Process, Kamnung Chamnankij, whose husband and son had been charged in 2007 with the possession of chemicals associated with explosive devices and were subsequently arrested, recalled: “I had to sell my house, my only two cows, my husband’s fishing boat…
Editor’s Picks: 2014 Must Reads
December 23, 2014
Blog Post
Season’s Greetings! On behalf of In Asia’s editorial board and bloggers, we thank you for your engagement and continued readership throughout the year. We’ll be taking a short break, but will return on January 7. In the meantime, catch up on our must-read pieces and highlights on the most pressing events and issues in Asia throughout 2014.
Human Rights and Mongolia’s Small-Scale Mining Sector
October 29, 2014
Blog Post
Since the collapse of the socialist regime in 1990, Mongolia’s economic development has been dependent on an expanding formal and informal mining sector that for many years had little regard for the environment.
What Do Increasing Attacks Against Soft Targets in Thailand’s South Signal?
August 6, 2014
Blog Post
Following the first-round meeting in February 2013 between the Thai Government and the Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN) rebel group that marked the start of surprise peace talks, insurgents have primarily targeted hard targets such as military and police personnel. However, following the breakdown of talks in July 2013…
Minorities within the Minority: Indigenous Communities in the Bangsamoro
August 6, 2014
Blog Post
In March this year, a major milestone passed in the 40-year effort to end hostilities in the Philippines between the national government and Muslim separatist fronts. The government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) signed a Comprehensive…
The Struggle Against Religious Conflict in Pakistan
August 6, 2014
Blog Post
On the third day of Eid-ul Fitar last week, two Hindu trader brothers from district Umerkot in Sindh Province were murdered in front of their home. An Ahmadi doctor was murdered in Chiniot in May 2014 while a Hazara Shia community in Quetta was attacked and two brothers were murdered by Lashakr-e-Jhangvi on Eid-ul Fitar in July 2014. The killing of Rashid Rehman…
Human Rights Protection in Modern Cambodia: Building on Unstable Grounds
April 23, 2014
Blog Post
On January 3, ongoing street protests by garment workers in Cambodia’s capital, Phnom Penh, turned violent. Government troops opened fire into a crowd of civilians, killing four and leaving one person missing. A total of 23 civilians were arrested and 21 are still detained without bail.
Obama’s Asia Trip to Test Rebalancing Policy
April 23, 2014
Blog Post
This week President Obama travels to four Asian countries – Japan, South Korea, the Philippines, and Malaysia. In many respects, the president’s visit is to make up for his absence last October in Brunei and Indonesia to attend the East Asia Summit (EAS) and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) leaders meeting because of the U.S. government shutdown.
Philippines Mobilizes for a Disability-Inclusive 2016 Presidential Election
April 23, 2014
Blog Post
In his 4th State of the Nation Address in June 2013, Philippine President Aquino praised a 30-year-old Makati resident Nino Aguirre who has no legs, but had laboriously climbed four floors to reach his polling station and cast his vote in the May 2013 midterm elections. While Mr. Aguirre’s feat demonstrated laudable…
Photo Blog: Critical Issue – Access to Justice & Human Rights
April 23, 2014
Blog Post
Weak legal institutions and poorly functioning systems of justice pose challenges to citizens throughout Asia in resolving disputes, enforcing their rights, and accessing benefits to which they are legally entitled. This photo blog examines issues of access to justice and human rights through the lens of three countries
Prejudice at the Polling Booth: Disabled Indonesians Face Barriers in Voting
April 9, 2014
Blog Post
Millions of Indonesians voted in legislative elections on Wednesday, their ink-stained fingers marking another important moment in the consolidation of Indonesian democracy. Sixteen years after the fall of the Suharto regime, elections are largely considered free and fair…
A Conversation with Nepali Journalist, Women’s Rights Advocate Jaya Luintel
March 5, 2014
Blog Post
Ahead of International Women’s Day on March 8, In Asia editor Alma Freeman interviewed Nepali radio journalist and women’s rights advocate, Jaya Luintel, on women’s changing role in politics and society in Nepal, the country’s wide gender gap, and hopes of democratic momentum.
Village Renaming Heals Deep Wounds in Southern Thailand
February 19, 2014
Blog Post
On the morning of Feb. 9, 2014, the seafront village of Mengabang in Saiburi district in southern Thailand was bathed in sun and abuzz with activity. Boys and girls in colorful local costumes and festive dress, beaming groups of middle-aged women, and village elders crowded along the main seafront road as they got into formation for a parade.
The Critical Issues Affecting Asia
January 22, 2014
Blog Post
More than half of the planet lives in Asia. Six of the 10 largest nations in the world are in the Asia Pacific, and the region is playing an increasingly important role in the global economy, international security, and the world’s collective efforts to advance human development. The dynamism of Asian economies contributed greatly to the global economic recovery, simultaneously lifting more than half a billion people out of poverty. Glittering cities and bustling ports bear testament to the so-called “Asian miracle” that has become the dominant narrative in economic and political analysis of recent years.
Credible Reform, Not Shutdown, Needed to End Thailand’s Political Standoff
January 15, 2014
Blog Post
For more than two months, tens of thousands of anti-government protesters have gathered at Democracy Monument and other major intersections throughout Bangkok. Initially, the People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC), led by former long-time Democrat politician, Suthep Thaugsuban…
India’s Elected Women Leaders Push to End Violence Against Women
December 18, 2013
Blog Post
One year ago, on December 16, the fatal rape case of a 23-year-old woman in a Delhi suburb shocked the nation, grabbing international news headlines, and mobilized the government and civil society to recognize…
Mongolian Women Urge Amendments to Domestic Violence Law
December 18, 2013
Blog Post
Every year, a “16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence” campaign is held across the globe, including in Mongolia, to increase awareness about this global pandemic. This year in Mongolia, the spotlight was shone on domestic violence…
Cambodia’s 2013 Elections: A Measure of Political Inclusion?
July 24, 2013
Blog Post
Cambodians will go to the polls on July 28 for the fifth National Assembly election since the U.N. organized the historic 1993 elections. Victory for the Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) is expected by many to be a foregone conclusion – a continuation of Hun Sen’s 28-year reign as prime minister, one of the longest serving leaders in Asia.
A Conversation with U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam David Shear
July 10, 2013
Blog Post
In June, The Asia Foundation hosted U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam, David B. Shear, at its headquarters in San Francisco. In Asia editor Alma Freeman sat down with him to discuss expanding economic and diplomatic ties, negotiating the Trans-Pacific Partnership, progress in human rights, and Vietnam’s lively but circumscribed social media landscape.
Debating Amnesty and Reconciliation in Nepal
June 12, 2013
Blog Post
The last several weeks have witnessed the unfolding of an unfortunate chain of events in Nepal with regard to a Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC). The commitment to form a TRC was part of the 2006 Comprehensive Peace Accord, which ended a decade-long conflict between State and Maoist forces.
United Efforts, Not Boycotts, Will Help Bangladesh’s Garment Workers
May 15, 2013
Blog Post
The horrific collapse three weeks ago of an eight-story garment factory building in Savar, just outside of Bangladesh’s capital, Dhaka, took the lives of more than 1,100 people, and was followed just last week by a deadly fire in another garment factory that left at least eight dead. The tragedies have left a nation in mourning, shining a spotlight on the lack of safety for garment sector workers in Bangladesh. These incidents have drawn international attention on the urgent need for better working conditions for workers, starting with safer, more secure buildings.
A New Beginning for Malaysian Politics?
May 8, 2013
Blog Post
On May 6, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak took the oath of office as Malaysia’s 7th prime minister before King Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah at the National Palace. Prime Minister Najib’s coalition, Barisan Nasional, returned to power when it won 133 of the 222 parliamentary seats to form the Federal Government.
The Philippines Rocks for a Fully Abled Nation
May 8, 2013
Blog Post
Eastwood City in Metro Manila came alive on May 7 as top bands and artists came together, in front of some 200 persons with disabilities (PWDs) and more than a thousand fans for a free concert to encourage and inspire the audience to go out and vote in the upcoming midterm elections on May 13…
How an Electronic Database is Dramatically Reforming Indonesia’s Prisons
April 3, 2013
Blog Post
Kiki, a registrations clerk at Cipinang Prison in Jakarta, glanced at his pile of paperwork with a degree of resignation. It was April 2009, and he was responding to three summons letters from the prosecutor’s office and the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) for 92 inmates to appear in court the next day.
New Animation Series Raises Awareness of Forensics in Thailand
March 13, 2013
Blog Post
The Asia Foundation in Thailand just released a new animation series that raises public understanding of the role of forensic investigation in criminal justice administration. Forensic investigation holds special significance in Thailand, where allegations of human rights abuse routinely arise. Originally intended to educate young people about fore… Read more
Bangladeshis Join V-Day’s One Billion Rising to End Violence Against Women
March 6, 2013
Blog Post
For International Women’s Day, the UN declared 2013 a “time for action to end violence against women,” as the theme of the annual global event. In the lead up to IWD, on February 14 tens of thousands of events were held in 207 countries across the globe…
New Sexual Assault Laws in India: Only the Beginning
March 6, 2013
Blog Post
The violent attack on a young woman in New Delhi last December, and the nationwide protests that followed, were yet another indication that India’s youth are increasingly fed up. This case, piled upon countless other commonplace incidents of sexual violence directed at women and children throughout the country…
Forensic Science Enhances Access to Justice and Human Rights Protection in Thailand
February 27, 2013
Blog Post
Among the array of international television series aired by cable networks in Thailand, “CSI,” “Bones,” and other dramas that highlight the work of forensic pathologists are especially popular. While Thai audiences are exposed to the dramatized investigative techniques applied by forensic specialists working in cooperation with law enforcement agencies…
Bangladesh’s New Generation Awakens in Protest
February 20, 2013
Blog Post
This year, spring arrived a few days early in Bangladesh’s capital, Dhaka, and its advent was a raging bloom. On February 5, a few Bangladeshi blogger-activists occupied the Shahbag intersection to protest against the mild sentence of life-imprisonment awarded to war criminal Abdul Quader Mollah…
2013 Philippine Midterm Elections to Test Voter Participation Reforms
February 20, 2013
Blog Post
As the Philippines gears up for 2013 midterm elections in May, last week in Zamboanga city, persons with disabilities came out in full force to discuss achievements and challenges ahead of election day. Up until now, this group has been wholly underrepresented at the polls.
Shaking up Global Fight to End Human Trafficking
February 6, 2013
Blog Post
Over the weekend, academics and practitioners from across the U.S. gathered at the University of Southern California for a conference that aimed to challenge some of the bedrock assumptions and rhetoric that underpin the movement against trafficking in persons.
Thailand Adopts Nationwide Minimum Wage Policy Amid Controversy
January 30, 2013
Blog Post
From January 1 of this year, Thailand’s employers must pay all employees at least 300 baht (about $10) a day. If they don’t, they will face six months in jail and/or a 100,000 baht fine for not complying. The 300-baht minimum daily wage policy, the fulfillment of a 2011 election campaign pledge by the ruling Pheu Thai Party, has been piloted in seven provinces since May 1, 2012 (including Bangkok), with much debate and division among employers, labor unions, government ministries, and academics about the actual and perceived impact of the policy on the economy, productivity, small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and inequality.
U.S.-ASEAN Relations Mature, but Pitfalls Abound
January 30, 2013
Blog Post
For Southeast Asia, 2012 brought both challenges and opportunities to the region – from Cambodia’s chairmanship of ASEAN and further political opening in Burma (also known as Myanmar) to tensions in the South China Sea and the adoption of the ASEAN Declaration of Human Rights (ADHR).
Rape Case Ignites National Debate on Violence Against Women in India
January 16, 2013
Blog Post
It has been a month since the fatal rape of a 23-year-old woman by a gang of six men on a moving bus in South Delhi captured headlines in India and around the world. In Delhi, where I live and work, the incident continues to pervade both the media and private conversations as people of all walks of life struggle to come to terms…
Nepal’s Migrants Boost Economy, But Greater Protection of Rights is Needed
December 19, 2012
Blog Post
Yesterday, countries around the world marked International Migrants Day in recognition of the 214 million migrants on the move across the globe in search of better economic opportunity. No where is this recognition more important than in a place like Nepal…
The Filipino Child is Not Dispensable
December 5, 2012
Blog Post
This week, the Senate prepares to vote on House Bill No. 6052 which will lower the age of criminal liability in the nation from 15 to 12 years old. With the absence of a juvenile justice system, this means that children in conflict with the law…
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi Inspires the Next Generation
September 26, 2012
Blog Post
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, Nobel laureate, elected parliamentarian, and political opposition leader of Burma (also known as Myanmar) came to Washington last week, on the first leg of her historic trip to the United States. This Friday, she makes her way to San Francisco…
Optimism High, But Challenges Remain for Burma’s Future
September 26, 2012
Blog Post
Given the decades-long political stasis in Burma (also known as Myanmar), the changes introduced under President Thein Sein have been nothing short of remarkable. Over the past 18 months, President Thein Sein has released thousands of political prisoners…
New Opportunities for the Women of Burma
September 26, 2012
Blog Post
On a recent trip to Burma (also known as Myanmar) as an observer on a Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) delegation, I met with dozens of leading government officials, activists, and civil society leaders to talk about the changes taking place in the country and the prospects for a peaceful transition to democracy.
Burmese Immigrants in Thailand ‘Want to Go Home’
August 8, 2012
Blog Post
Hours before her expected arrival at the Migrant Workers Rights Network (MWRN) office in Mahachai, Thailand, southwest of Bangkok, hundreds of people began to assemble around the building, hoping to secure a good spot to greet or at least catch a glimpse of “the Lady.”
Legislating Against Witchcraft Accusations in Nepal
August 8, 2012
Blog Post
In Nepal’s Chitwan District, a 40-year-old widow and mother of two was
Elections to Test Timor-Leste’s Stability
March 14, 2012
Blog Post
With presidential elections set for March 17, followed by parliamentary elections in June, Timor-Leste is now in full political campaign mode. Some prominent figures in the country will compete for the post in Saturday’s presidential election, including incumbent president Jose Ramos Horta; the just-resigned commander of the armed forces, Taur Matan Ruak; Vice Prime Minister Jose Luis Guterres; the sitting president of the National Parliament, Fernando Lasama; and Lu Olo, the president of the main opposition party FRETLIN.
New Act a Blow to Human Rights in Nepal
March 14, 2012
Blog Post
This January, the president of Nepal signed into law a new National Human Rights Commission Act. Today, very few people are aware of the new Act and, perhaps more importantly, of its consequences. For a democratic country that aspires to respect and uphold the rule of law, this appears to be a step in the wrong direction.
As Demand for Migrant Labor Grows, Opportunities for Women Emerge, But Risks Prevail
March 7, 2012
Blog Post
While in Saudi Arabia this week for bilateral talks, Nepal’s finance minister, Barsha Man Pun, made a much-needed request to Saudi Arabia’s government to grant amnesty for at least six months for illegal Nepali migrant workers.
Human Trafficking Rampant in Thailand’s Deep-Sea Fishing Industry
February 8, 2012
Blog Post
While a lucrative deep-sea fishing industry places Thailand among the world’s leading exporters of sea products, a grim specter of human rights abuse lurks below the surface of an industry whose contribution to the national economy is estimated to exceed $4 billion a year. A combination of factors – including a shortage of labor in this dangerous…
Frustrated, Indonesians Demand Changes in Juvenile Justice System
February 1, 2012
Blog Post
After a series of reports emerged across the archipelago in recent weeks of children being arrested and prosecuted for petty crimes, Indonesians are raising questions about the state of juvenile justice in the country. The first was a confounding case that resonated around the globe: a 15-year-old boy from Central Sulawesi was incarcerated and tried last month…
Q&A: What Does Anwar Ibrahim’s Acquittal Mean for Malaysia’s Judiciary and Upcoming Elections?
January 11, 2012
Blog Post
On Monday, Malaysia’s High Court acquitted opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim of sodomy charges after a highly publicized and controversial 2-year trial. As Malaysia looks to elections in 2013, which are widely expected to be called later this year, In Asia’s editor, Alma Freeman, interviews Herizal Hazri and Nurshafenath Shaharuddin in The Asia Foundation’s Malaysia office for insight into how the verdict could affect elections, Prime Minister Najib Razak’s recent democratic reforms, what this says about the independence of Malaysia’s judiciary, and more.
Bridging the Gap between Bangladesh’s Police and Communities
December 7, 2011
Blog Post
Earlier this year, Sumaiya Akhter, a 12-year-old resident of Bangladesh’s capital, Dhaka, hanged herself from her ceiling fan with a scarf. She had been verbally harassed by Selim, an older neighborhood boy, on the way to and from school every day. Sumaiya told her parents, but just prior to her death, her mother scolded her for what was happening…
Despite Serious Consequences, Gender-Based Violence Still Bitter Reality Across Asia
November 30, 2011
Blog Post
A global campaign is underway right now to bring attention to a pressing human rights issue which affects up to 60 percent women across the world. The 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence campaign – which falls between International Day Against Violence Against Women…
Overcoming Disability Challenges in the Philippines
October 26, 2011
Blog Post
Francia came to Tala Leprosarium from her hometown of Camarines Sur in Bicol region as a leprosy patient when she was 17 years old. Before she contracted leprosy, she had worked as a domestic helper. When I met Francia at Jose Rodriguez Memorial Hospital, a former leprosarium and grantee of The Asia Foundation’s…
Gender and Conflict in Mindanao
October 19, 2011
Blog Post
Newsweek/The Daily Beast, in its September 18 issue, ranked the Philippines as the “best place in Asia for women.” The Philippines ranked 17th worldwide, among 165 countries, the only Asian country to make the top 20. Data across five categories – justice, health, education, economics, and politics – were analyzed…
Extrajudicial Killings in the Philippines: Is the Situation Really Improving?
October 12, 2011
Blog Post
A robbery suspect lies naked and writhing on the cement floor of a Manila police precinct with his genitals bound while a plainclothes policeman pulls a rope and whips him. All the while a uniformed officer stood by and watched. The torture was recorded on video via a mobile phone and was leaked to the internet and aired…
Social Media in the Philippines is Widespread, but what is its Impact?
October 12, 2011
Blog Post
The Philippines long had a terrible reputation for telecommunications, with Singapore’s Lee Kuan Yew famously saying that in 1992, 99 percent of the population in the Philippines was waiting for a phone and 1 percent was waiting for a dial tone. However, beginning with the administration of Fidel Ramos (1992-1998) and followed by President Estrada (1998-2001), the telecoms industry was liberalized, and phone ownership skyrocketed.