The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) [previously known as Forum-Asia] is a membership-based regional human rights organisation with 85 member organisations in 23 countries across Asia. It is committed to the promotion and protection of all human rights including the right to development. FORUM-ASIA was founded in 1991 in Manila, The Philippines and opened its Regional Secretariat in Bangkok in 1992. Subsequently, offices have also been opened in Geneva, Jakarta and Kathmandu. It has consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council since 2004. FORUM-ASIA is committed to building a peaceful, just, equitable and ecologically sustainable community of peoples and societies in Asia, where all human rights of all individuals, groups and peoples – in particular, the poor, marginalised and discriminated against – are fully respected and realised in accordance with internationally accepted human rights norms and standards. History Founding (1991–1994) In December 1991, a regional consultation, 'On Collaboration between Human Rights Organisations in South and South-East Asia', was held in Manila, the Philippines. During the meeting a new network was established, the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (Forum-Asia). The idea for the consultation came from D.J. Ravindran, former Legal Officer for Asia for the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ). Prior to the consultation he had visited several countries in the region to gain input for a working paper to be used during the event. This first consultation had participants from nine countries representing 19 organisations, who became the founding members of Forum-Asia. These organisations were: Ain O Salish Kendra (ASK) from Bangladesh Legal Resource for Social Action (LRSA) from India Indonesia Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI) from Indonesia Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM) from Malaysia Informal Sector Service Centre (INSEC) from Nepal Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) from Pakistan Task Force Detainees of the Philippines (TFDP) from the Philippines Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates (PAHRA) from the Philippines Protestant Lawyers League of the Philippines (PLLP) from the Philippines Pilipina Legal Resources Center (PLRC) from the Philippines Paglilingkod Batas Pangkapapatiran Foundation (PBPF) from the Philippines Tanggol-Kalikasan (TK) from the Philippines Paralegal Training and Service Center (PTSC) from the Philippines Movement for Inter-Racial Justice and Equality (MIRJE) from Sri Lanka Law and Society Trust (LST) from Sri Lanka Information Human Rights Documentation Centre (INFORM) from Sri Lanka Union for Civil Liberty (UCL) from Thailand Coordination Group for Religion in Society (CGRS) from Thailand Friends