December 2018MESSAGE FROM THE HRS CO-CHAIRA landmark step for human rights in the Asia PacificThe 1st LAWASIA Human Rights Conference will soon take place in New Delhi, India, over 9-10 February 2019. The two-day program promises to deliver a variety of rich and ... READ MORE Just released: Special allocation of early bird tickets now available to international delegates.Legalisation of same-sex marriage suffers major setback in TaiwanVoters in Taiwan rejected same-sex marriage at national referendums last month, upholding the traditional Civil Code definition. The government must now reconcile the voting outcome with a contrary High Court ruling made in 2017. MOREUN member states sign historic agreement on global migrant crisisWith 250 million people living outside their countries of birth, UN member states have signed the first international agreement aimed at managing the global migration crisis. The deal follows eight months of negotiations.MORESri Lanka's constitutional crisis: Supreme Court reserves verdictSri Lanka's President Sirisena sparked constitutional crisis in October by dissolving parliament and removing the sitting PM. The Supreme Court heard 13 petitions in four days opposing Sirisena's actions, but has reserved its verdict. MOREBan on electoral campaigning lifted in ThailandThe military government in Thailand has ended a ban on political campaigning four years after seizing power in a coup. Following repeated delays, democratic elections are now scheduled to take place on 24 February 2019.MOREGlobal climate change meeting held in Katowice, PolandDelegates from over 200 countries gathered at "COP24" climate talks this month to lay down the rules for implementing the landmark Paris Agreement. It marked the third meeting since adoption of the climate compact.  MOREMNC executives convicted for crimes under military ruleFor the first time, former executives of a multinational company have been convicted for crimes under military rule in Argentina, with two ex-Ford executives deemed "necessary participants" in the criminal abuse of 24 factory employees. MOREPro-democracy activists in Hong Kong face chargesLeaders of Hong Kong's 'Occupy' movement pleaded not guilty to public nuisance charges over the pro-democracy demonstrations held the city in 2014. The protests drew thousands of supporters and spanned more than two months. MOREUS sanctions North Korean officials for human rights abusesThe US Treasury Department has announced sanctions on three senior North Korean officials for human rights abuses, freezing their US assets and banning US citizens from conducting business transactions with the trio. MOREWorld marks 70th anniversary of UN Declaration of Human Rights10 December 2018 marked the 70th anniversary of the UN Declaration of Human Rights. The document has influenced nearly all modern democratic constitutions and revolutionised human rights jurisprudence globally. MORETwo more Japanese medical schools admit to discriminationAllegations of sex discrimination have engulfed medical schools in Japan, with two more universities admitting to manipulating test scores to favour male candidates. Another 81 schools are being investigated by the education ministry. MORE'Stanstead 15' protesters charged with terrorism related offences15 protestors, the so-called Stanstead 15, locked themselves around a deportation plane bound for Africa, returnees face a risk of serious persecution. A jury charged the protestors under the Aviation and Maritime Security Act 1990. MOREFacebook among firms named on Myanmar human rights 'dirty list'49 companies across the US, UK, France, Switzerland and China have been named on a “dirty list” compiled by pressure group Burma Campaign UK, accused of involvement in human rights and environmental abuses in Myanmar. MORE