Widespread erosion of basic human rights is taking a heavy toll on Asian economies, leaving vulnerable populations exposed to labor abuses, scams and inequality, according to a Human Rights Watch report released Thursday.
The report highlights that authoritarian trends across the region have made governments increasingly hostile to efforts that protect fundamental rights. It urges “rights-respecting democracies” to collaborate with civil society groups to counter this trend and address gaps left by the U.S. withdrawal of foreign aid and participation in international organizations such as the World Health Organization under former President Donald Trump.
The report notes that growing inequality has allowed the powerful to prosper while the poor bear the brunt of economic and social hardships. In Afghanistan, forced returns of displaced people combined with steep cuts to foreign aid have left over 22 million people without adequate food, shelter, or medical care. In Indonesia, Indigenous activists and government critics opposing mining and oil projects have faced threats and arrests, leaving them little recourse against vested interests. Predatory microfinance lending in countries like Cambodia has trapped poor communities, particularly Indigenous populations, in debt and forced land sales.
Worker protections across Asia are also weakening. Migrant workers in Nepal and Bangladesh remain highly vulnerable despite decades of labor reforms. Many face exploitative recruitment fees, wage theft, unsafe working conditions, and sexual violence abroad. In Singapore, migrant workers are excluded from key protections under the Employment Act and restricted from union participation, the report said.
Criminal and illicit activities are rising in several countries. In Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar, weak enforcement against human trafficking, labor abuses, and cyber-scam operations has allowed criminal networks to flourish. Journalists exposing these issues in Cambodia have faced detention under charges of threatening national security. In Myanmar, the 2021 military takeover displaced 3.6 million people, while illicit opium and synthetic drug production have surged, reversing years of progress.
The report also highlighted some positive developments. In South Korea, lawmakers successfully resisted former President Yoon Suk Yeol’s martial law declaration, resulting in his impeachment and a five-year prison sentence. Gen-Z protests in Nepal, Indonesia and Bangladesh have drawn attention to corruption, inequality and poor governance, though not always achieving long-term democratic change. Violent demonstrations in Indonesia in August over excessive parliamentary allowances resulted in 10 deaths but showcased public resistance to unaccountable governance.
“People know when they see unjust, unaccountable governments, and they're prepared to take to the streets and do something about it,” said Elaine Pearson, Asia director of Human Rights Watch.
The report underscores the economic and social risks of ongoing human rights backsliding in Asia and calls for international support and stronger local protections to safeguard vulnerable populations.