Reports
Human Rights Highlights 2025: Part I – South and East Asia
- Asia Team
- 22 December 2025
- East Asia, Human Rights, South Asia
This report presents the first part of the 2025 Human Rights Highlights, focusing on South and East Asia. It examines major human rights developments across Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Japan, Maldives, Mongolia, Nepal, North Korea, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, and Tibet.
The report covers a wide range of issues, including women’s rights, children’s rights, labour rights, minority rights, refugee rights, LGBTQIA+ rights, religious freedom, freedom of expression, political instability, state violence, environmental concerns, sustainable development, and statelessness.
Through country-specific analysis, the report highlights both progress and persistent challenges across the region. While some countries introduced reforms and strengthened protections in certain areas, serious gaps remain in enforcement, accountability, equality, and protection for vulnerable communities.
The report covers a wide range of issues, including women’s rights, children’s rights, labour rights, minority rights, refugee rights, LGBTQIA+ rights, religious freedom, freedom of expression, political instability, state violence, environmental concerns, sustainable development, and statelessness.
Through country-specific analysis, the report highlights both progress and persistent challenges across the region. While some countries introduced reforms and strengthened protections in certain areas, serious gaps remain in enforcement, accountability, equality, and protection for vulnerable communities.
✨ AI summary
This report reviews key human rights developments across South and East Asia in 2025. It examines Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Japan, Maldives, Mongolia, Nepal, North Korea, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, and Tibet, while also addressing the thematic issues of sustainable development and statelessness. The report highlights challenges including restrictions on freedom of expression, state violence, forced labour, minority persecution, gender-based violence, refugee vulnerability, LGBTQIA+ discrimination, environmental degradation, and political instability. It also notes progress in areas such as children’s rights in Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, women’s political representation in the Maldives, Nepal’s appointment of its first female Prime Minister, and climate-related legal developments in India and Sri Lanka. Overall, the report concludes that while some progress was made, South and East Asia continue to face significant human rights protection and enforcement gaps.
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