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.

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.

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].

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

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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