DTP E-Newsletter 214
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DIPLOMACY TRAINING PROGRAM

Building the capacity of Asia-Pacific
Human Rights Movements since 1990

In our continuing series on Digital Rights we provide a link to a paper prepared for the OECD “Rights in the Digital Age: Challenges and Ways Forward”. It looks at the impacts of the digital realm on internationally recognised human rights, including new ways of claiming rights as well as ways they can infringe on rights. The paper argues for the development of safety online and how to ensure access to the internet. READ MORE

In this issue, we profile alumnus Bheem Reddy Mandha, who works tirelessly to uphold the rights of Indian migrant workers in the Gulf, provide information about DTP's programs, reports on recent programs and news from alumni, partners and the region, and calls from the UN for your engagement.

DTP, like others, has been affected by suspension of funding from US sources following the inauguration of President Trump. We are appealing for support to help us continue our support to the individuals and movements whose courage and commitment safeguards human rights, democracy and peace. Please donate here if you can. Investing in human rights movements has never been more important.

 

DTP Programs

NEW WEBINAR SERIES – UNDERSTANDING GENOCIDE, UN ACCOUNTABILITY MECHANISMS, THE MAGNITSKY ACT in AUSTRALIA in partnership with STARTTS. See the second webinar in the Genocide Convention series with Noor Azizah and Joshua Creamer and a focus on victims/survivors, resilience and recovery WATCH THE WEBINAR The final webinar in the series focused on Genocide Prevention & Advocacy: Lessons from Recent Genocides will feature Lana Tatour, Debbie Stothard and Jonathan Liljeblad is on Thursday 13 March at 6pm AEDT REGISTER HERE

DTP is working with its alumni and partners on more series of webinars on the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). Webinars on Digital Rights Deep Sea Mining and Enforced Disappearances have also been suggested. To express interest and/or suggest webinar topics, please contact [email protected]

THE OECD GUIDELINES ON RESPONSIBLE BUSINESS CONDUCT AND THE NATIONAL CONTACT POINTS (NCP): AN INTRODUCTION TO THE AUSTRALIAN NCP WEBINAR: See the first in a new series of webinars to build awareness of the OECD Guidelines and the role of NCPs, featuring speakers Laura Llewellyn (Director, AusNCP), John Southalan (Independent Examiner, AusNCP) and DTP alumnus Pillkyu Hwang. WATCH THE WEBINAR

33rd ANNUAL HUMAN RIGHTS AND PEOPLES' DIPLOMACY TRAINING PROGRAM: Timor-Leste, August 25 - September 5, 2025 - at the invitation of President José Ramos-Horta and in partnership with Global Campus of Human Rights, Justice System Monitoring Project and Human Rights Centre, UNTL – AIPP, FORUM-ASIA, PIANGO and MFA. Applications close 31 March 2025. READ MORE

DTP BUSINESS AND HUMAN RIGHTS ALUMNI NETWORK WORKSHOP: 12-14 December 2024, Bangkok. DTP and partners held a three-day workshop with 23 alumni from 9 countries in Bangkok, Thailand focused on BHR capacity building needs and regional BHR networking. READ THE PROGRAM REPORT

MIGRATION AND BHR WORKSHOP: 11 December, 2024, Bangkok. DTP/MFA alumni and representatives held a half-day workshop focused on BHR and migration reflecting on over 20 years of DTP/MFA collaboration on capacity building. READ MORE

BUILDING SOCIAL INCLUSION, HUMAN RIGHTS AND GENDER EQUALITY IN MYANMAR: 11-29 November, Australia in partnership with Lawkapala Foundation. 16 participants from NUG, Ethnic Nationalities and civil society spent three weeks together, engaging with Australian institutions, NGOs and Myanmar diaspora communities and strategizing for an inclusive, democratic Myanmar.

 

Child Rights Webinar Series

24 webinars on the Convention on the Rights of the Child are available here. Each webinar features leading child’s rights experts, practitioners and young people exploring the challenges in realising children’s rights in practices.

READ MORE
DTP's Children's Rights logo. Credit: DTP
 

Alumni Profile

Photo of Bheem Reddy Mandha. Credit: Bheem Reddy Mandha

Bheem Reddy Mandha

Bheem Reddy Mandha is a former journalist and life insurance agent who has turned into a dedicated migrant workers’ rights advocate, focusing on migrants to the Persian Gulf. He founded and has been actively involved in the Emigrants Welfare Forum, a member of DTP partner Migrant Forum in Asia (MFA), where he collaborates with regional and international networks to push for policy reforms and greater protections for migrant workers.

"DTP training provided a platform where I realized the power of informed advocacy. The knowledge I gained was not just theoretical; it was practical. The training enabled me to implement new strategies in my own work."

READ MORE
 

DTP Alumni in Action

For information about our alumni, click here. If you want to get in contact with any of DTP's alumni, please contact the office at [email protected].

Supporting DTP Alumni in Thailand

DTP alumna Bertha Samponu, Asia-Pacific Coordinator of IMCS Pax Romana International, gave DTP Executive Director Patrick Earle a tour of their international youth training centre in Chomthong, Chiang Mai. The training centre is available to rent for human rights defenders and movements. For more information, alumni can contact DTP or Pax Romana directly – with plenty of notice.

READ MORE
DTP Executive Director Patrick Earle and alumna Bertha Samponu at the International Youth Training Centre (IYTC) in Chiang Mai. Credit: DTP
DTP alumni Frederic Wilson and Bablu Chakma presenting at the Asia Preparatory Meeting on United Nations Mechanisms and Procedures Relating to Indigenous Peoples in Chiang Mai. Credit: DTP

ASIA / BHR

DTP alumni Frederic Wilson and Bablu Chakma presented on Business and Human Rights and Indigenous Peoples at the Asia Preparatory Meeting on United Nations Mechanisms and Procedures Relating to Indigenous Peoples in Chiang Mai, Feb 25-28. Frederic and Bablu also lead in Asia on the Zero Tolerance Initiative.

Chonticha Tangworamongkon at the Thailand Modern Slavery conference. Credit: DTP

THAILAND

DTP alumna Chonticha "Chon" Tangworamongkon who now works with the ILO participated in Thailand’s Modern Slavery Conference held in Bangkok from March 3-4 which focused on efforts to progress human rights in business in Thailand, including consideration of OECD membership and mandatory due diligence.

Four Women Human Rights Defenders (WHRDs) and two Human Rights Defenders (HRDs) from the Khon Rak Ban Kerd Dan Khun Thot Group and supporters. Credit: Protection International Thailand

THAILAND

Pranom “Bee” Somwong shares celebration of the victory for human rights and the environment of six women HRDs from Khon Rak Ban Kerd Dan Khun Thot Group as Court dismisses Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPP) case against them for opposing potash mining.

READ MORE
Project Sepik Annual Report cover. Credit: Project Sepik

PAPUA NEW GUINEA

Emmanuel Peni shares updates and news from the campaign to "Save the Sepik" - this unique ecosystem – the environment, lives and livelihoods of the many peoples who share the Frieda and Sepik river system – and to promote sustainable development.

SEE 2024 PROJECT SEPIK ANNUAL REPORT
Yuyun Wahyuningrum. Credit: Yuyun Wahyuningrum

ASEAN / MYANMAR

Yuyun Wahyuningrum, Executive Director of ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights, shares open letter from Southeast Asian Parliamentarians and Civil Society calling for Inclusive and Decisive ASEAN Action on Myanmar Under Malaysia’s Madani Leadership.

READ MORE

ASIA / INDIGENOUS PEOPLES RIGHTS

EMRIP member and DTP alumnus Binota Moy Dhamai joined the new Special Rapporteur on the rights of Indigenous Peoples, Dr Albert K Barume and IWGIA’s Lola Garcia-Alix at the Asia Preparatory Meeting on United Nations Mechanisms and Procedures Relating to Indigenous Peoples in Chiang Mai.

Photo of Binota Moy Dhamai, IWGIA’s Lola Garcia-Alix and Dr Albert K. Barume at the Asia Preparatory Meeting on United Nations Mechanisms and Procedures Relating to Indigenous Peoples in Chiang Mai. Credit: DTP
Sumitha Shaanthinni Kishna. Credit: Sumitha Shaanthinni Kishna

MALAYSIA / MIGRANT WORKERS / BHR

Sumitha Shaanthinni Kishna shares news that will make it compulsory for migrant workers and employers to contribute to the Employee Provident Fund.

READ MORE
Waheed Ahmad delivering lecture. Credit: Waheed Ahmad

PAKISTAN / USA/ AFGHANISTAN

Waheed Ahmad shares article outlining the threat of forcible return to Afghanistan from Pakistan of Aghan refugees if the US denies resettlement to up to 40,000 people seeking asylum.

READ MORE
Photo of Mary Aileen Diez-Bacalso. Credit: FORUM-ASIA

ENFORCED DISAPPEARANCES

DTP alumna Mary Aileen Diez-Bacalso, Executive Director of FORUM-ASIA shared this compilation of media coverage of First World Congress on Enforced Disappearances held in Geneva in January this year. It comes at a time when concern is growing that “enforced disappearances” are again on the rise in Asia.

READ MORE
 

Partner News

People in traditional dresses at a shinpyu ceremony in a village neat the city of Myeik in the south in Myanmar in Southeastasia. Credit: urf/Depositphotos

FORUM-ASIA publishes opinion piece exposing the Myanmar junta’s plan to conscript women in its fight in the civil war, continuing the gender-based violence and harassment of women prevalent in the security forces READ MORE

ASIA INDIGENOUS PEOPLES PACT held their annual Asia Preparatory Meeting on United Nations Mechanisms and Procedures Relating to Indigenous Peoples in Chiang Mai. READ KEYNOTE ADDRESS FROM AIPP SECRETARY GENERAL GAM A. SHIMRAY

FORUM-ASIA joined other CSOs calling for the substantial reforms of the Indonesian Criminal Procedure Code in adherence to human rights principles READ MORE

 

News from the Region

Blacked out trucks driving down a Thai street. Credit: Prachatai, 2025/Fortify Rights

THAILAND/CHINA Fortify Rights condemns the forcible return to China by Thai authorities of around 40 Uyghur refugees in contravention of the Refugee Convention and Thailand’s laws READ MORE

HONG KONG/CHINA In a first since the enactment of the National Security Law, Hong Kong’s top court overturned the convictions of three former members of a pro-democracy group that organised an annual candlelight vigil to mark China's 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown READ MORE

MYANMAR/RUSSIA ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights express grave concern over the strengthening relationship between Russia and Myanmar’s military junta, deepening repression and threatens regional stability, following meeting between Senior General Min Aung Hlaing and President Vladimir Putin in Moscow READ MORE 

 

UN News and Calls to Contribute

Cover of UN Women report Women’s rights in review 30 years after Beijing. Credit: UN Women

UN Women report Women’s rights in review 30 years after Beijing, 30-year review and appraisal of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action reflects global, regional, and national reviews of 159 countries, summarising progress and priorities for further action. READ MORE

Special Rapporteur on the rights of Indigenous Peoples calls for input on reports on the Recognition of Indigenous Peoples, deadline 28 March READ MORE and on “Identification, Documentation, Demarcation, Registration, and Titling of Indigenous Peoples’ Lands: Practices and Lessons Learned”, deadline 1 April READ MORE

Special Rapporteur on the human right to a healthy environment calls for input: Environmental impact assessments, strategic environmental impact assessments and the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment, deadline 15 April READ MORE

Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls calls for input to the thematic report to the UNGA on surrogacy and violence against women and girls, deadline 18 April READ MORE

Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities calls for input: Care and support for children with disabilities within the family environment and its gendered dimensions, deadline 30 April READ MORE

Working Group on Business and Human Rights call for inputs for the report on “Labour Migration, Business and Human Rights”, deadline 30 April READ MORE

Special Rapporteur on counter-terrorism and human rights calls for input on the Human Rights Impacts of Administrative Measures to Counter Terrorism and (Violent) Extremism, deadline 9 May READ MORE

Expert Mechanism on the Right to Development calls for inputs into study "Climate Finance: Vulnerability and Responsibility", deadline 30 May READ MORE

 

Resources

The Australian Human Rights Commission has developed a set fact sheets and school lessons to commemorate the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (21 March) incorporating the warning that the idea of 'harmony' hides structural and systemic racism READ MORE

The Asia Pacific Forum has released a new policy paper on The roles of NHRIs in relation to extra-territorial human rights cases and situations READ MORE

 

Please donate

DTP relies on donations to provide quality training to human rights defenders so that they can promote and protect human rights effectively in their societies. Please help if you can and donate here. Donations over $2 are tax-deductible.

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We want to hear from you

One of DTP's strengths is you, our alumni and networks. If you have news, opinion pieces, resources or examples of best practice to share, or have questions on human rights, please send them to us at [email protected]. Please stay safe.

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Diplomacy Training Program
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https://dtp.org.au/

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DTP acknowledges the traditional custodians of the land on which we work, the Bedegal people of the Eora Nation. We recognise their lands were never ceded, and we acknowledge their struggles for recognition and rights and pay our respects to the Elders – past, present – and the youth who are working towards a brighter tomorrow. This continent always was and always will be Aboriginal land.

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