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UN experts report a sharp rise in transnational repression linked to China and several Southeast Asian States, documenting at least 150 defenders, dissidents, members of marginalised groups, and family members targeted by violence, refoulement, legal harassment, and intimidation.
UN Special Procedures experts warn of an escalating wave of transnational repression by or linked to authorities in China and several Southeast Asian countries.
In joint communications to China, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), they detail at least 150 cases in which human rights defenders, dissidents, members of marginalised groups, and their family members were subjected to violence, refoulement, harassment, and intimidation by States or their proxies outside their territories.
As ASEAN marks the 13th anniversary of its Human Rights Declaration in November 2025, the documented cross‑border abuses highlight a widening gap between commitments and practice. The experts warned of a ‘surge in human rights violations of a transnational nature’ across the region and recalled that States have an obligation to prevent violations by foreign States in their territories.
Patterns of repression include:
OHCHR warnings and guidance
In his March 2025 global update to the Human Rights Council, High Commissioner Volker Türk warned of a growing pattern of abductions, disappearances, and killings in mainland Southeast Asia. He called for a zero‑tolerance approach to extra‑legal transfers and abductions, credible accountability for perpetrators, and consistent adherence to the principle of non-refoulement.
Building on that warning, in June 2025, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) issued a brief clarifying the scope of transnational repression as actions by States or their proxies to deter, silence, or punish critics abroad through violence, intimidation, abusive legal measures, or digital threats. It also urges States to strengthen awareness, protection mechanisms, accountability, and digital security.
ISHR calls for international accountability
To date, none of the six governments nor ASEAN addressed by the UN experts has provided a substantive response to the communications.
ISHR echoes the High Commissioner’s call, urging the governments concerned – especially Human Rights Council members China, Thailand, and Vietnam – to uphold their human rights obligations, notably the absolute prohibitions on refoulement and enforced disappearance. No government should return refugees or dissidents to their persecutors. All States, particularly those in ASEAN, must uphold non-refoulement, reject abusive extradition requests, and provide asylum or safe passage to those at risk.
A coalition of 25 civil society organisations urges the Human Rights Council to pursue long-term, well-resourced reforms that strengthen—rather than shrink—its ability to respond to human rights crises.
In their interactive dialogues with the General Assembly’s Third Committee, treaty body chairs focused on critical obstacles preventing mandate fulfilment, including severely strained or non-existent financial and human resources leading to significant case backlogs.
During the 38th Human Rights Council special session on the human rights situation in and around El Fasher, in the context of the ongoing conflict in Sudan, ISHR delivered a joint statement with Sudanese Women’s Rights Action, and the Regional Coalition for Women Human Rights Defenders in South West Asia and North Africa.
