What a Human Rights Watch report says about the economic toll of backsliding rights in Asia

Rising Authoritarianism Takes Economic Toll on Asia’s Most Vulnerable

Widespread erosion of basic rights across Asia is increasingly damaging regional economies, with growing inequality leaving the poor particularly vulnerable to labor abuses and criminal exploitation, according to a comprehensive report released Thursday by Human Rights Watch.

The report paints a troubling picture of democratic backsliding throughout the region, noting that many Asian governments have grown more hostile to human rights protections amid a broader global authoritarian trend. Human Rights Watch urges democratic nations to forge stronger alliances with civil society groups to counter this regression, particularly as U.S. leadership and engagement in international organizations has diminished in recent years.

“The connection between human rights violations and economic hardship is increasingly evident across Asia,” said Elaine Pearson, Asia director at Human Rights Watch. “When governments dismantle protections and silence critics, the most vulnerable segments of society inevitably suffer the consequences.”

In Afghanistan, the report highlights how forced repatriation of displaced people combined with sharp reductions in foreign aid have created a humanitarian crisis, leaving more than 22 million people without adequate food, shelter, or medical care. This situation exemplifies how political decisions can rapidly accelerate human suffering.

The suppression of dissent has become a common thread across several Asian countries, allowing officials to operate with minimal accountability while undermining legal protections. In Indonesia, for instance, Indigenous activists and government critics face threats and arrests, particularly when opposing powerful mining companies and oil palm plantations, effectively silencing resistance to corporate interests.

Financial exploitation of vulnerable populations has become increasingly normalized. Predatory microfinance practices in Cambodia have trapped many poor families in cycles of debt, with Indigenous communities especially vulnerable to forced land sales and exclusion from traditional livelihoods that once sustained them.

The report also highlights the plight of migrant workers from countries like Nepal and Bangladesh, who remain vulnerable to abuse despite decades of advocacy for their protection. These workers often incur substantial debt to pay recruitment fees, only to face wage theft, unsafe working conditions, and sexual violence abroad. Even in wealthy Singapore, migrant workers are excluded from the country’s Employment Act protections and face restrictions on union participation, creating a system where exploitation can flourish.

Criminal enterprises are exploiting regulatory gaps across borders. In Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar, inconsistent enforcement of laws against human trafficking and labor abuses has allowed cyber-scam centers to proliferate. These operations often traffic victims across borders to work in compounds where they are forced to perpetrate online fraud. Despite occasional crackdowns, these operations continue to expand.

The situation in Myanmar has deteriorated dramatically following the 2021 military coup that deposed the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi. The resulting civil war has displaced 3.6 million people within the country and sent millions more fleeing to neighboring Thailand and Bangladesh. In this environment of instability, Myanmar has become the world’s leading opium producer and a major source of synthetic drugs.

Despite these concerning trends, the report identifies some positive developments. In South Korea, lawmakers successfully challenged former President Yoon Suk Yeol’s attempted declaration of martial law, leading to his impeachment and a five-year prison sentence. This demonstrated the resilience of democratic institutions when faced with authoritarian overreach.

Youth-led protests, dubbed “Gen-Z protests,” have emerged as a powerful force in countries like Nepal, Indonesia, and Bangladesh. These movements have drawn attention to corruption, inadequate public services, and poor governance, though their success in driving meaningful change has been mixed. In Indonesia, violent protests erupted in late August after reports revealed lawmakers were receiving monthly housing allowances nearly ten times the minimum wage in Jakarta, leaving ten people dead.

“People know when they see unjust, unaccountable governments,” Pearson noted, “and they’re prepared to take to the streets and do something about it.”

As economic pressures mount across the region, the report suggests that the interconnection between human rights protections and economic stability will become increasingly apparent, potentially creating new pressures for reform in countries where authoritarian governance has undermined both.