Impact
DTP’s impact is in the work of more than 4,000 individuals DTP has trained since 1990 – DTP’s alumni. DTP alumni are working every day in over 90 countries for the promotion and protection of human rights, to defend their communities and their natural environment. DTP’s alumni include grassroots activists, award-winning advocates, human rights commissioners, ambassadors, and community leaders.
Awards
2015 Sir Ron Wilson Human Rights Award
DTP was honoured to receive the 2015 Sir Ron Wilson Human Rights Award from ACFID, recognising the contribution of its 2,500 alumni to human rights work across more than 50 countries.
“This award acknowledges our alumni, who work tirelessly to uphold shared values of human dignity in their respective countries, putting to good use the skills and techniques they picked up in the DTP programs they attended.”
2019 Asia Democracy and Human Rights Award
DTP was honoured to receive the 2019 Asia Democracy and Human Rights Award from the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy, becoming the first Australian organisation to receive the award. It recognised DTP’s more than 30 years of supporting democracy and human rights across Asia through practical training, mutual learning and solidarity.
Then-President Tsai Ing-wen of the Republic of China (Taiwan) during the ceremony highlighted that DTP “has made it possible for the seeds of human rights to flourish and bear fruit around the world and offer mutual support.”
Read the full remarks by then-President Tsai and Patrick Earle (PDF).
DTP’s Award-Winning Alumni
DTP Alumni are active working for human rights in many different countries and fields. Some of them have received awards for their work and contributions to the human rights of others. These are some of them.
Chalida Tajaroensuk
Chalida is a prominent Thai human rights defender with over 30 years of experience of working on peace building, human rights, solidarity and democracy in Thailand and across Asia. She currently is the Chairperson of People’s Empowerment Foundation (PEF). In 2019 her solidarity for human rights and self-determination in Timor-Leste was recognised by the Timorese government with the Order of Timor-Leste.
Jonathan Mesulam
Jonathan is a leading environmental and human rights defender in Papua New Guinea (PNG). Founder and Director of the West Coast Development Foundation (WCDF) and a leader of the Alliance of the Solwara Warriors, his award-winning NGO has been leading the campaign against Deep Sea Mining (DSM) which threatens the fragile ecosystems and sustenance of Pacific island communities.
DTP Stories of Change
Respect for human rights is a shared dream that is made real by efforts of individuals working together in their own communities and across borders.
Nayela Akter
Nayela participated in the DTP/MFA migrant worker program in Bangladesh in 2015/16. She now works with the Asia Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institutions (APF) managing their EU funded Inter-Governmental Mechanism (IGM) project.
I remember the DTP training vividly. The training was a continuous initiative with some effective results. DTP training brought all the migrant rights NGOs in Bangladesh together to formulate a coherent national advocacy agenda for migrant workers' rights.
Sr Nicola Emmanuel
At the DTP training program we had a role-play on the Human Rights Council in Geneva. It never occurred to me that I will get a real-life experience at United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva to present my case and the issues in Sri Lanka. DTP’s training helped me to take the voices of the victims to Geneva, so that the world could hear them and act.