Women and youth have become targets as Southeast Asian governments exploit COVID-19 induced state of emergency and temporary laws to prosecute them for their political activities.
This emerging phenomenon is examined in Asia Centre’s second baseline study “COVID-19 and Democracy in Southeast Asia: Building Resilience, Fighting Authoritarianism”, released to mark the United Nations International Human Rights Day, Dec. 10.
The 54-page report, compiled from July to November 2020, examines the state of democracy and human rights in the region between Jan. 1 and Nov. 30. It encompasses a review of over 200 reports, articles and case studies, examined by the key words and data presented.