Dear Manu shyan , Dea r Friend, It has been a long and winding journey in digital rights in Asia-Pacific. We now stand at a precarious time, frightening even. Across Southeast Asia, governments are fast tracking identity verification laws and policies that would tear down anonymity as we know it. For centuries, anonymity has granted activists the ability to challenge those in power, especially if doing so publicly could either mean jail time, enforced disappearance or deat

On 21 February , Mr. Khaen’s brother confirmed via a Facebook post that the motorbike found at the scene belonged to Mr. Khaen and stated that identification would take place on 22 February. On 22 February , the same day Laos held national elections, Mr. Khaen’s brother publicly confirmed via a Facebook post that the deceased body found on 20 February is Mr. Khaen, 32-year old, born on 21 October 1994; and announced funeral arrangements to be held on 23 February 2026 at 13

UPDATE (ao 2 March): After confirming the identity of the dead body as Mr. Khaen, his brother retracted Facebook posts on 23 February that Mr. Khaen's death and have stopped asking for donations for support with funeral rites. Beforehand, the head of the Houay Teuy Village issued a Letter of Certification claiming the brother's claims are “entirely without merit and completely false” . The village head then issued a follow up statement on 24 February confirming the death o

Today, 22 February 2026, marks 600 days since peaceful activists from Mother Nature Cambodia were unjustly sentenced to 6-8 years in prison for protesting and campaigning against environmentally-destructive activities such as sand mining in Koh Kong province. Tomorrow, 23 February at 8:00 AM ICT, the Supreme Court will hear their bail request. 📢 We demand the immediate, unconditional release of all detained activists! We demand all baseless convictions against Mother Nature

There are many things us SEAblings don’t agree on… but we can absolutely agree on clapping back at racism (🇰🇷👀) and celebrating our beautiful languages. 🔥 Because let’s be real: 𝙀𝙣𝙜𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙝 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙣𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙗𝙪𝙞𝙡𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙚 𝙪𝙨. 𝗜𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝘂𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲, 𝗮 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗶𝘇𝗲𝗿’𝘀 𝘁𝗼𝗼𝗹. Language has long been central to colonial policy, considered one of the fastest ways to subjugate and control so-called “territories.” In the Phil

🗓 Every year on 20 February, we commemorate the World Day of Social Justice to highlight the need to continue working towards a fair and just society that truly serves the needs of everyone, especially marginalized communities. ✊This year’s theme, “Renewed Commitment to Social Development and Social Justice,” celebrates progress in poverty reduction and education while confronting the barriers that remain. Despite these gains, inclusive growth is still hindered by structura

For years, defenders and communities in Laos 🇱🇦 have faced intensifying repression, including transnational repression, for speaking truth to power. Now? They are officially recognised! In August 2025, Manushya Foundation and Power by Keyboard submitted a bold report to the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, exposing systemic repression and rights violations in Laos. 🇺🇳 We didn’t just send a document. We went to Geneva ourselves. ✈️ Our Founder & Execut

UPDATE: The most updated details of Mr. Khaen's case (now confirmed death) can be found here: https://bit.ly/JusticeForKhaenNOW The recent disappearance of Mr. Khaen (widely known as Bao Mo Khaen) has raised alarms in Laos. Evidence suggests he was under intense pressure and threats from authorities and anonymous individuals prior to his disappearance. He's been receiving regular threats through pro-government facebook anonymous accounts (see this FB account for example).

On 13 February, a self-proclaimed spiritual healer known as “Lung Sanom” from Angthong, Central Thailand 🇹🇭 was caught sexually harassing several women who sought him out for healing. But what is equally disturbing is the wave of victim-blaming that followed. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻 𝘀𝘂𝗿𝘃𝗶𝘃𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝘃𝗶𝗼𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝘄𝗶𝗰𝗲: first through the shaman who exploited them, then by the public who blamed them for their beliefs. Instead of holding the perpetr

จากกรณีข่าวสะเทือนใจที่เกิดขึ้น เมื่อผู้ที่อ้างตัวว่าเป็นผู้มีวิชาอาคม หรือที่รู้จักกันในนาม ”ลุงสนม“ ได้ใช้ความศรัทธาและความเปราะบางของสภาพจิตใจเหยื่อมาเป็นเครื่องมือ บิดเบือนคำสอนและความเชื่อเรื่องการปัดเป่าสิ่งชั่วร้าย ให้กลายเป็นช่องว่างในการ ”ล่วงละเมิดทางเพศ“ เหตุการณ์นี้ไม่ใช่แค่เรื่องของอาชญากรรมทางเพศทั่วไป แต่มันคือการ ”ทำลายความศรัทธา“ อย่างรุนแรงที่สุด 🚩 ทำไมความเชื่อถึงถูกใช้เป็นเครื่องมือ? การสร้างสภาวะจำยอม: ผู้กระทำมักอ้าง ”พิธีกรรม“ หรือ ”อาถรรพ์“ เพื่อสร้าง

🇹🇭 The People of Thailand are enraged ‼️ After the Election Commission denies the recount petition in Chon Buri arguing “lack of corruption evidence”, youth leaders organized a multi-sectoral protest in front of the Bangkok Art & Culture Center. Once again, the EC chooses to be conveniently blind to numerous election-related violations in what is now widely considered as “the most corrupt national elections in Thailand’s history”. As young feminist defender Pim clamours, Do

Multiple things can be true at once: We can respect what Valentine’s Day means to many… while also questioning how capitalism has co-opted love and shaped today’s culture of dating and partnership into something performative, exclusionary, and transactional. On a day that often pressures people to prove their worth through consumption, coupledom, and conformity to cis/heteronormative scripts, we hold space for those who feel excluded. So if you spent today alone, working, hea

📲 Can you imagine showing your face & ID just to keep your social media account? That’s what the Philippines and Thailand are pushing for with mandatory social media account verification. While promises of “online safety” and “battling disinformation” look good on paper, we must treat it for what this truly is: an extension of state surveillance and a deliberate attack on political freedoms. As Manushya Foundation’s Digital Rights Advisor Jean Linis-Dinco highlights in our b

For years, human rights defenders (HRDs) and communities in Laos have been silenced for speaking truth to power through intimidation, arbitrary detention, enforced disappearances, and violence. Their struggles were ignored, denied, or deliberately erased. Today, many Lao HRDs continue this struggle from exile , facing transnational repression through surveillance, threats, intimidation of family members, and cross-border attacks aimed at silencing their advocacy. These patte

Experienced election fraud in your voting precinct? Take power back. Report it now! 🗳️ A public complaint desk has been set up to compile cases and submit them to the Elections Commission (EC). If they won’t do their job, the people will. If you witnessed intimidation, irregularities, blocked access, vote manipulation, or other election violations, don’t let it disappear into silence. Demand justice! ✊ Report election-related violations here: bit.ly/RecountNow #WeAreManushya