Dear SAHR members and friends,
Greetings from South Asians for Human Rights (SAHR)!
Over the last year, SAHR has continued to engage actively across the region – documenting violations, standing in solidarity with affected communities, and strengthening collective advocacy. Below is a brief, interactive snapshot of our yesteryear’s work for your perusal.
What We Did | Key Initiatives
- SAHR conducted a fact finding mission from 6-10 January 2025, in Sindh, Pakistan, to investigate the compensation process for persons affected by the 2022 climate-induced floods. The report was released on 28 July 2025.
- SAHR, in partnership with HRCP, held a two-day hybrid conference in the month of July, in Lahore, Pakistan. The conference emphasized the need of developing and growing cross-border peace movements, as well as the protection and promotion of human rights. The meeting allowed for widespread involvement, reaching a diverse audience both in person and digitally.
- The SAHR mission to Dhaka took place from 28 August to 3 September 2025. The mission met with students, human rights defenders including those working on environmental rights and marginalized communities and other civil society representatives including academics, lawyers and journalists, members of various commissions and the Chief Advisor and several Advisors of the Interim Government. Prior to the mission, SAHR prepared a report reviewing the Interim Government’s progress in promoting and protecting human rights, as well as the democratic transition process.
A Year of Transition in Bangladesh
- SAHR, in partnership with the Human Rights Committee of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka, and the United Nations Sri Lanka organized a two- day legal conference in Colombo on 20 – 21 September 2025. The conference aimed to provide Sri Lanka’s legal community with nuanced insights from leading legal experts from Bangladesh, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka on recent regional judicial developments, as well as best practices and practical approaches to human rights advocacy and activism by legal professionals.
- On 22 September 2025, a public discussion titled “South Asia’s Changing Democratic Landscape and the Role of Civil Society” took place in Colombo. The South Asian Councillors for Human Rights, Democracy and Peace – Hina Jilani (Pakistan), Roshmi Goswami (India) Sultana Kamal (Bangladesh), Kanak Mani Dixit (Nepal) were among the panelists.
- SAHR made the decision to look into the human rights violations during the Gen Z demonstrations that took place in Nepal on 8-9 September and the widespread destruction of both private and public property on September 9. The SAHR delegation sought to record the movement’s beginnings, growth, information ecosystems, institutional effects, lack of representation, and issues with democratic legitimacy, transitional accountability, and election administration.
- SAHR collaborated with regional networks to host two concurrent sessions at the Asia Pacific Social Forum (APSF) on 3–4 November 2025. The first session, Call to Action: Youth Movements for Democratic Futures in South Asia, focused on youth-led mass uprisings in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Nepal as catalysts for democratic renewal and regional solidarity. The second session, Rebuilding from the Fractures: Regional Solidarity and Civic Action in South Asia, examined sustaining civil society activism amid ongoing repression, surveillance, and restrictions on civic freedoms. In parallel, SAHR participated in key regional forums from 1-5 November 2025—including the Assembly of Asian Democracy Network (ADN), CIVICUS’ International Civil Society Week (ICSW), and APSF—to strengthen regional activism and networking.
What We Published
SAHR’s research report – ‘A protracted Exile: Bhutanese Refugees in Nepal’. The report was released on 23 October 2025. In order to realize their right to a good life and a respectable living standard, SAHR advocates that the Lhotshampa refugees in Nepal should be allowed to work.
Click here to view
The fact finding mission report on the Sindh floods addressed issues raised by the flood recovery process, such as inadequate housing and infrastructure, sanitation and health, climate vulnerability and state responsibility, access to health care, agriculture and economic impact, climate change awareness, systemic failures, climate finance, and economic burden.
Click here to view
What We Published
- SAHR Fact – Finding Mission Exposes Major Flaws in Sindh’s 2022 Floor Recovery – 11 January 2025
- SAHR is deeply alarmed by threats and intimidation faced by journalist sand judges in Pakistan – 11 February 2025
- SAHR Strongly Condemns the Arbitrary Arrests and Detentions in Balochistan and Urges Immediate Release – 23 March 2025
- SAHR vehemently condemns the terrorist attack against 26 tourists in Indian administered Kashmir – 30 April 2025
- Voicing the concerns of South Asians, SAHR resolutely demands the governments of India & Pakistan to immediately de-escalate the current war situation – 8 May 2025
- SAHR calls on the Government of Bangladesh to uphold the right to peaceful protest – 19 July 2025
- SAHR welcomes the newly appointed Interim Government of Bangladesh – 9 August 2025
- Open Letter To: Permanent Representatives of Member and Observer States of the United Nations Human Rights Council – 28 August 2025
- SAHR expresses deep concern regarding the Maldives Media and Broadcasting Regulation Bill – 3 September 2025
- The Maldives: End Militarized Policing and Unlawful Use of Sonic Weapons Against Peaceful Protestors – 11 October 2025
- SAHR is deeply concerned about the attacks and intimidation against the community of Baul singers – 2 December 2025
Why It Matters | The Bigger Picture
These actions and statements are part of SAHR’s broader commitment to:
- Defend human rights defenders and civic freedoms
- Challenge impunity, militarization, and exclusion in South Asia
- Strengthen regional solidarity and people-centered justice
Thank you for standing with SAHR and for your continued commitment to justice, dignity, and human rights across South Asia.
In solidarity,
In solidarity,
South Asians for Human Rights (SAHR) Secretariat