Elaine Pearson
@elainepearson.bsky.social
Asia Director, Human Rights Watch
Author of Chasing Wrongs and Rights
Author of Chasing Wrongs and Rights
Reposted by Elaine Pearson
Good riddance to rubbish policy.
The end to the UK's "two child limit" social security policy has been announced, and it will soon be gone.
We @hrw.org welcome the news, as one of many, many, many voices calling for an end to this arbitrary, cruel social security policy.
The end to the UK's "two child limit" social security policy has been announced, and it will soon be gone.
We @hrw.org welcome the news, as one of many, many, many voices calling for an end to this arbitrary, cruel social security policy.
November 26, 2025 at 2:13 PM
Good riddance to rubbish policy.
The end to the UK's "two child limit" social security policy has been announced, and it will soon be gone.
We @hrw.org welcome the news, as one of many, many, many voices calling for an end to this arbitrary, cruel social security policy.
The end to the UK's "two child limit" social security policy has been announced, and it will soon be gone.
We @hrw.org welcome the news, as one of many, many, many voices calling for an end to this arbitrary, cruel social security policy.
The Anutin government should make human rights a priority & show commitment through swift & effective action. The Thai government should revoke abusive laws, end the repression of fundamental rights & exonerate all those prosecuted for peacefully expressing their views. www.hrw.org/news/2025/11...
Thailand: Rights Priorities for New Government
The new Thai government should reverse the trend of past administrations and take concrete action to uphold human rights.
www.hrw.org
November 19, 2025 at 8:49 AM
The Anutin government should make human rights a priority & show commitment through swift & effective action. The Thai government should revoke abusive laws, end the repression of fundamental rights & exonerate all those prosecuted for peacefully expressing their views. www.hrw.org/news/2025/11...
We want accountability for the serious abuses by Bangladeshi authorities in the protests last year when 1,400 people were killed. But sentencing former PM Sheikh Hasina to death in a trial in absentia without respecting the right to a fair trial is not justice. www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cp...
Ex-Bangladesh leader Sheikh Hasina sentenced to death over brutal protests crackdown
The former prime minister, who is living in exile in India, was tried in her absence over a deadly crackdown on protests last year.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 17, 2025 at 9:19 PM
We want accountability for the serious abuses by Bangladeshi authorities in the protests last year when 1,400 people were killed. But sentencing former PM Sheikh Hasina to death in a trial in absentia without respecting the right to a fair trial is not justice. www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cp...
The Myanmar junta’s sham elections are a desperate bid for international legitimacy after nearly 5 years of brutal military repression. Foreign governments should reject the elections & not lend any credibility to these polls - they will not be free, fair, or inclusive. www.hrw.org/news/2025/11...
Myanmar: Elections a Fraudulent Claim for Credibility
Foreign governments should reject the Myanmar junta’s plans to hold elections from late December 2025 through January 2026 because they will not be free, fair, or inclusive.
www.hrw.org
November 17, 2025 at 8:56 AM
The Myanmar junta’s sham elections are a desperate bid for international legitimacy after nearly 5 years of brutal military repression. Foreign governments should reject the elections & not lend any credibility to these polls - they will not be free, fair, or inclusive. www.hrw.org/news/2025/11...
Increased cooperation between Thai & Vietnamese authorities is putting Vietnamese refugees & asylum seekers in Thailand at heightened risk of forcible return to Vietnam. Thai police have carried out several large operations in 2025 detaining Vietnamese. NEW from @hrw.org www.hrw.org/news/2025/11...
Thailand: Vietnamese Refugees at Risk from Hanoi
Increased cooperation between Thai and Vietnamese authorities is putting Vietnamese refugees and asylum seekers in Thailand at heightened risk of forcible returned to Vietnam.
www.hrw.org
November 14, 2025 at 6:59 AM
Increased cooperation between Thai & Vietnamese authorities is putting Vietnamese refugees & asylum seekers in Thailand at heightened risk of forcible return to Vietnam. Thai police have carried out several large operations in 2025 detaining Vietnamese. NEW from @hrw.org www.hrw.org/news/2025/11...
Until recently, Uyghurs who escaped repression at home felt safe in Türkiye, but as China-Türkiye relations warm & the Erdoğa government cracks down on refugees & migrants, many are growing fearful. New @hrw.org report on Uyghurs in Turkiye www.hrw.org/news/2025/11...
Türkiye: ‘Restriction Codes’ Harm Uyghurs Seeking Safety
Turkish authorities are increasingly restricting the legal residency of Uyghurs seeking safety from the Chinese government.
www.hrw.org
November 13, 2025 at 12:58 PM
Until recently, Uyghurs who escaped repression at home felt safe in Türkiye, but as China-Türkiye relations warm & the Erdoğa government cracks down on refugees & migrants, many are growing fearful. New @hrw.org report on Uyghurs in Turkiye www.hrw.org/news/2025/11...
Reposted by Elaine Pearson
Soeharto a national hero?
Focus on his terrible human rights record
- Media censorship
- Tight restrictions on freedom of association & assembly
- Highly politicized, controlled judiciary
- Widespread torture
- Attacks on rights of minorities
- Massacres of alleged communists
- Numerous war crimes
Focus on his terrible human rights record
- Media censorship
- Tight restrictions on freedom of association & assembly
- Highly politicized, controlled judiciary
- Widespread torture
- Attacks on rights of minorities
- Massacres of alleged communists
- Numerous war crimes
Indonesia’s President Declares Late Dictator Soeharto a ‘National Hero’
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto declared 10 people “national heroes” on November 10, which Indonesia celebrates as Heroes Day. Among them was the late President Soeharto, who ruled Indonesia fro...
www.hrw.org
November 11, 2025 at 9:05 AM
Soeharto a national hero?
Focus on his terrible human rights record
- Media censorship
- Tight restrictions on freedom of association & assembly
- Highly politicized, controlled judiciary
- Widespread torture
- Attacks on rights of minorities
- Massacres of alleged communists
- Numerous war crimes
Focus on his terrible human rights record
- Media censorship
- Tight restrictions on freedom of association & assembly
- Highly politicized, controlled judiciary
- Widespread torture
- Attacks on rights of minorities
- Massacres of alleged communists
- Numerous war crimes
President Prabowo’s choice of Soeharto as a "national hero" sends a deeply troubling message to Indonesians & the world. Soeharto never faced charges for the crimes he oversaw. To date there's been virtually no accountability for widespread abuses committed under his rule www.hrw.org/news/2025/11...
Indonesia’s President Declares Late Dictator Soeharto a ‘National Hero’
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto declared 10 people “national heroes” on November 10, which Indonesia celebrates as Heroes Day. Among them was the late President Soeharto, who ruled Indonesia fro...
www.hrw.org
November 11, 2025 at 9:32 AM
President Prabowo’s choice of Soeharto as a "national hero" sends a deeply troubling message to Indonesians & the world. Soeharto never faced charges for the crimes he oversaw. To date there's been virtually no accountability for widespread abuses committed under his rule www.hrw.org/news/2025/11...
Reposted by Elaine Pearson
Activists condemn award by ex-son-in-law President Subianto, branding it betrayal of Soeharto's victims and democracy.
Indonesia makes former president Soeharto posthumous national hero
Activists condemn award by ex-son-in-law President Subianto, branding it betrayal of Soeharto's victims and democracy.
bit.ly
November 10, 2025 at 9:00 AM
Activists condemn award by ex-son-in-law President Subianto, branding it betrayal of Soeharto's victims and democracy.
Reposted by Elaine Pearson
Our @ajiunit.com investigation into Myanmar’s civil war is online. It exposes abuses on the battlefield and beyond aje.io/junta
Exposing the hidden horrors on Myanmar’s battlefields I Al Jazeera Investigations
Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.
aje.io
November 9, 2025 at 11:56 PM
Our @ajiunit.com investigation into Myanmar’s civil war is online. It exposes abuses on the battlefield and beyond aje.io/junta
A 10-year-old Cambodian boy died from an explosion after reportedly bringing home an item from a field in Cambodia’s Preah Vihear province near the Thai border. The blast seriously injured his father. Both 🇹🇭 & 🇰🇭 should commit to end the use of cluster munitions.
www.hrw.org/news/2025/11...
www.hrw.org/news/2025/11...
Alleged Cluster Munition Remnant Kills Cambodian Boy
On October 25, 10-year-old Sern Sovann died from an explosion after reportedly bringing home an item from a nearby field in Cambodia’s Preah Vihear province near the border with Thailand. The blast al...
www.hrw.org
November 10, 2025 at 1:13 PM
A 10-year-old Cambodian boy died from an explosion after reportedly bringing home an item from a field in Cambodia’s Preah Vihear province near the Thai border. The blast seriously injured his father. Both 🇹🇭 & 🇰🇭 should commit to end the use of cluster munitions.
www.hrw.org/news/2025/11...
www.hrw.org/news/2025/11...
Indonesia's former military dictator Suharto ruled for more than 3 decades & was never held to account for corruption or widespread human rights abuses including the massacres of alleged communists. Now, President Prabowo proclaims him a "national hero". Impunity prevails www.bbc.com/news/article...
Indonesia names former dictator Suharto a 'national hero'
The controversial legacy of Suharto's New Order regime has sparked heated protests against the move.
www.bbc.com
November 10, 2025 at 9:08 AM
Indonesia's former military dictator Suharto ruled for more than 3 decades & was never held to account for corruption or widespread human rights abuses including the massacres of alleged communists. Now, President Prabowo proclaims him a "national hero". Impunity prevails www.bbc.com/news/article...
Cambodian authorities are using the Thai-Cambodia border conflict as a pretext to intimidate those who express their views on social media. 16+ social media users have been arrested & charged with treason or incitement + 3 journalists have been arrested for their coverage www.hrw.org/news/2025/11...
Cambodia: Border Conflict Critics Arrested
Cambodian authorities have arbitrarily arrested and charged at least 16 people for expressing their views on social media about the Thai-Cambodia border conflict in July and August 2025.
www.hrw.org
November 10, 2025 at 3:09 AM
Cambodian authorities are using the Thai-Cambodia border conflict as a pretext to intimidate those who express their views on social media. 16+ social media users have been arrested & charged with treason or incitement + 3 journalists have been arrested for their coverage www.hrw.org/news/2025/11...
Australian state of Victoria has passed landmark legislation to establish the nation's first treaty with indigenous peoples in a historic step towards justice, truth & self-determination. New from @hrw.org www.hrw.org/news/2025/11...
Australia Adopts First Treaty with Indigenous Peoples
The Australian state of Victoria on October 30 passed landmark legislation to establish the nation’s first treaty with First Nations people.
www.hrw.org
November 10, 2025 at 1:59 AM
Australian state of Victoria has passed landmark legislation to establish the nation's first treaty with indigenous peoples in a historic step towards justice, truth & self-determination. New from @hrw.org www.hrw.org/news/2025/11...
When Afghan Women United took the field last week in Morocco for their first games in 4 years, it wasn't just about playing a match. Their return to compete after the Taliban banned all sports for women & girls is a true victory for human rights.
www.hrw.org/news/2025/10...
www.hrw.org/news/2025/10...
Afghan Women’s Return to Football a Human Rights Victory
Their return to compete after the Taliban banned all sports for women and girls is a true victory for human rights.
www.hrw.org
November 4, 2025 at 1:38 PM
When Afghan Women United took the field last week in Morocco for their first games in 4 years, it wasn't just about playing a match. Their return to compete after the Taliban banned all sports for women & girls is a true victory for human rights.
www.hrw.org/news/2025/10...
www.hrw.org/news/2025/10...
Threats to academic freedom in the UK - Sheffield Hallam University terminated a project about Uyghur forced labor after Chinese state security officers reportedly interrogated a staff member in Beijing & a Chinese company named in a report filed a defamation lawsuit. www.hrw.org/news/2025/11...
Chinese Government Threatens Academic Freedom in the UK
Sheffield Hallam University in England terminated a project about Uyghur forced labor after Chinese state security officers reportedly interrogated a staff member in Beijing and a Chinese company name...
www.hrw.org
November 4, 2025 at 11:30 AM
Threats to academic freedom in the UK - Sheffield Hallam University terminated a project about Uyghur forced labor after Chinese state security officers reportedly interrogated a staff member in Beijing & a Chinese company named in a report filed a defamation lawsuit. www.hrw.org/news/2025/11...
Reposted by Elaine Pearson
Xi's regime doesn't just go after any dissent in China, it also tries to silence dissident voices abroad.
The latest example? Puma Shen.
"Beijing is reaching beyond its borders and seeking to declare certain lawful speech and activities as off-limits for Taiwan’s people.” - Maya Wang / @hrw.org
The latest example? Puma Shen.
"Beijing is reaching beyond its borders and seeking to declare certain lawful speech and activities as off-limits for Taiwan’s people.” - Maya Wang / @hrw.org
China: Dubious Criminal Investigation of Taiwanese Legislator
The Chinese government has announced it investigating the Taiwanese legislator Puma Shen Pao-Yang (沈伯洋) for the crime of “separatism,” infringing upon his basic human rights.
www.hrw.org
October 31, 2025 at 11:40 AM
Xi's regime doesn't just go after any dissent in China, it also tries to silence dissident voices abroad.
The latest example? Puma Shen.
"Beijing is reaching beyond its borders and seeking to declare certain lawful speech and activities as off-limits for Taiwan’s people.” - Maya Wang / @hrw.org
The latest example? Puma Shen.
"Beijing is reaching beyond its borders and seeking to declare certain lawful speech and activities as off-limits for Taiwan’s people.” - Maya Wang / @hrw.org
"Dismantling the Taliban’s institutionalised system of gender persecution & addressing the country’s myriad human rights crises demands urgent, principled & sustained international attention & action – not normalisation of the de facto authorities" UN SR on Afghanistan www.ohchr.org/en/press-rel...
October 31, 2025 at 2:02 PM
"Dismantling the Taliban’s institutionalised system of gender persecution & addressing the country’s myriad human rights crises demands urgent, principled & sustained international attention & action – not normalisation of the de facto authorities" UN SR on Afghanistan www.ohchr.org/en/press-rel...
The Chinese government’s investigation of Taiwanese legislator Puma Shen reflects escalating efforts to intimidate Taiwanese people about exercising their rights. This is a blatant example of cross-border application of abusive Chinese laws. New from @hrw.org www.hrw.org/news/2025/10...
China: Dubious Criminal Investigation of Taiwanese Legislator
The Chinese government has announced it investigating the Taiwanese legislator Puma Shen Pao-Yang (沈伯洋) for the crime of “separatism,” infringing upon his basic human rights.
www.hrw.org
October 31, 2025 at 1:35 PM
The Chinese government’s investigation of Taiwanese legislator Puma Shen reflects escalating efforts to intimidate Taiwanese people about exercising their rights. This is a blatant example of cross-border application of abusive Chinese laws. New from @hrw.org www.hrw.org/news/2025/10...
Reposted by Elaine Pearson
I absolutely love our tenth anniversary cover, beautifully illustrated by @badiucao.bsky.social, paying homage to the Gen Z protesters across Asia and the way they’ve embraced One Piece as a symbol of their determination for freedom and resistance 💪🏼
Really looking forward to everyone reading our tenth anniversary edition! It’ll be with our stockists in November, and is already at the Ubud Writers & Readers Festival bookstore 🤩🤩🤩
October 30, 2025 at 2:52 AM
I absolutely love our tenth anniversary cover, beautifully illustrated by @badiucao.bsky.social, paying homage to the Gen Z protesters across Asia and the way they’ve embraced One Piece as a symbol of their determination for freedom and resistance 💪🏼
The Vietnamese government should recognize that critical reporting isn’t a crime. In fact, it’s a mark of a mature government if it can learn from criticism. www.nytimes.com/2025/10/29/w...
Vietnam Prevents BBC Journalist From Leaving the Country
www.nytimes.com
October 30, 2025 at 4:54 AM
The Vietnamese government should recognize that critical reporting isn’t a crime. In fact, it’s a mark of a mature government if it can learn from criticism. www.nytimes.com/2025/10/29/w...
Good news! South Korea's census has been updated & will recognize same-sex relationships in national statistics for the first time. @hrw.org urges the government to build on this progress by passing a comprehensive anti-discrimination law & legalizing same-sex marriage.
www.hrw.org/news/2025/10...
www.hrw.org/news/2025/10...
South Korea: Census to Count Same-Sex Couples
South Korea’s Ministry of Data and Statistics updated the 2025 Population and Housing Census on October 22, 2025, to allow same-sex couples to be counted.
www.hrw.org
October 30, 2025 at 3:37 AM
Good news! South Korea's census has been updated & will recognize same-sex relationships in national statistics for the first time. @hrw.org urges the government to build on this progress by passing a comprehensive anti-discrimination law & legalizing same-sex marriage.
www.hrw.org/news/2025/10...
www.hrw.org/news/2025/10...
As Xi & Trump meet, democratic leaders attending the APEC summit should strongly reaffirm human rights & democratic principles & pledge to establish an Asia Democracy Defense Fund to mitigate the harm to human rights defenders & civil society in the region.
thediplomat.com/2025/10/trum...
thediplomat.com/2025/10/trum...
Trump, Xi Attacks on Rights a Challenge for APEC Summit
At a summit dominated by two leaders who have demonstrated utter hostility to the international system, human rights law, and democratic principles, how should rights-respecting, democratic countries ...
thediplomat.com
October 29, 2025 at 2:28 PM
As Xi & Trump meet, democratic leaders attending the APEC summit should strongly reaffirm human rights & democratic principles & pledge to establish an Asia Democracy Defense Fund to mitigate the harm to human rights defenders & civil society in the region.
thediplomat.com/2025/10/trum...
thediplomat.com/2025/10/trum...
Deeply concerning to hear a BBC journalist is barred from leaving Vietnam & interrogated about her reporting. Reporting is not a crime.
Starmer needs to raise this with To Lam at their meeting in London today + Vietnam's broader crackdown on dissent. www.theguardian.com/world/2025/o...
Starmer needs to raise this with To Lam at their meeting in London today + Vietnam's broader crackdown on dissent. www.theguardian.com/world/2025/o...
BBC journalist barred from leaving Vietnam and repeatedly interrogated
BBC ‘deeply concerned’ for journalist’s wellbeing after Vietnamese police withhold their ID card and renewed passport
www.theguardian.com
October 29, 2025 at 5:32 AM
Deeply concerning to hear a BBC journalist is barred from leaving Vietnam & interrogated about her reporting. Reporting is not a crime.
Starmer needs to raise this with To Lam at their meeting in London today + Vietnam's broader crackdown on dissent. www.theguardian.com/world/2025/o...
Starmer needs to raise this with To Lam at their meeting in London today + Vietnam's broader crackdown on dissent. www.theguardian.com/world/2025/o...
Yet another allegation of sexual harassment incident by a visiting official from Vietnam - this time in Seoul at a banquet for a defence dialogue. This follows similar incidents involving Vietnamese officials in Chile & New Zealand. When will these claims be investigated? www.hrw.org/news/2025/10...
Alleged Sexual Harassment by Vietnamese Officials Ignored—Again
The Vietnamese government has a poor record of dealing with allegations of sexual harassment by senior officials.
www.hrw.org
October 28, 2025 at 8:33 PM
Yet another allegation of sexual harassment incident by a visiting official from Vietnam - this time in Seoul at a banquet for a defence dialogue. This follows similar incidents involving Vietnamese officials in Chile & New Zealand. When will these claims be investigated? www.hrw.org/news/2025/10...