DTP E-Newsletter 216

DIPLOMACY TRAINING PROGRAM

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

In our continuing focus on Digital Rights we provide a link to an article by Rowena Rodrigues on artificial intelligence. In “Legal and human rights issues of AI: Gaps, challenges and vulnerabilities” Rodrigues identifies the legal and human rights issues associated with AI, and analyses solutions proposed in relation to each issue and the shortcomings in the responses to each of these issues. READ THE ARTICLE

In this issue, we profile alumna Thanida Piyachot, a Thai human rights defender who represents Thai civil society on an important parliamentary committee and who is an associate with Fortify Rights investigating human rights violations faced by refugees fleeing Myanmar. We 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

WEBINAR SERIES – UNDERSTANDING GENOCIDE, UN ACCOUNTABILITY MECHANISMS, THE MAGNITSKY ACT in AUSTRALIA in partnership with STARTTS. The three webinars in the series on the UN Human Rights Accountability Mechanisms are now available. They include the Treaty Bodies with Professor Chinsung Chung and Darren Dick WATCH THE WEBINAR The Universal Periodic Review with Joshua Cooper and Oliver Ray WATCH THE WEBINAR and The Special Procedures with Clement Voule and Professor Ben Saul WATCH THE WEBINAR

To see the three part Genocide Convention series CLICK HERE The final series on the Magnitsky Act in Australia will begin in May.

WEBINAR - UN DECLARATION ON THE RIGHTS OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES (UNDRIP) in partnership with Oxfam Australia, 9 April 5pm AEST. The second webinar in this series will focus on Implementing UNDRIP in Australia with Dr Albert K. Barume, The UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Les Malezer, Founding Chairperson of FAIRA and Ngarra Murray, Co-Chair of the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria REGISTER HERE

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]

BREAKING BARRIERS AND BUILDING BELONGING SYMPOSIUM in partnership with CORE Community Services Sydney, 14 March 2025. DTP joined advocates, thought leaders and community members for a day's symposium marking IDERD and the 50th anniversary of the Racial Discrimination Act to explore the ongoing fight to eradicate racism. READ MORE

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

BUILDING RESILIENCE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS AND DEMOCRACY MOVEMENTS - SHARING LESSONS AND BUILDING COLLABORATIONS IN CAPACITY BUILDING: 7-9 May (TBC), Bangkok. DTP and partners are hosting a Workshop to reflect and share the lessons from capacity building on advocacy for human rights. The workshop aims to develop collaboration on human rights and democracy capacity building in response to the closing civil society spaces and rise in authoritarianism. READ THE CONCEPT NOTE

HUMAN RIGHTS, CLIMATE CHANGE AND BUSINESS IN THE PACIFIC: 23-27 June, Fiji. A regional capacity building program for human rights and climate advocates and civil society organisations following 2024 consultation workshop. Email [email protected] for more information.

CONSULTATION WORKSHOP FOR CLIMATE CHANGE, HUMAN RIGHTS AND BUSINESS, PACIFIC PROGRAM in partnership with CCF, PIANGO and OHCHR-ROP: 25-27 June, 2024 17 Pacific CSOs and experts participated in a consultation workshop to develop a new capacity building strategy on human rights, climate change and business in the Pacific. READ THE REPORT

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. 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.

Cover of DTP's 2024 Annual report. Credit: DTP

DTP 2024 Annual Report

DTP's 2024 Annual Report is now available. In 2024, working with alumni and partners, DTP delivered an impressive range of face-to-face and online programs. Its 14 programs held in 6 countries included 269 participants (about 50% women) from 23 countries. The Annual Report details its activity throughout the year and highlights the stories of some of its alumni and trainers and the human rights issues they work on.

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.

Alumni Profile

Thanida Piyachot

Thanida Piyachot is currently working as a Human Rights Associate at the Fortify Rights, an international human rights NGO. In this role she systematically investigates human rights violations faced by refugees fleeing Myanmar after the Coup. Thanida is also a Barrister and serves as Secretary of Thailand’s Parliamentary Committee on National Security, Border Affairs, National Strategy, and National Reform in Thailand.

"The balance of ages, gender, and religions created an ideal environment for learning and networking. Meeting experienced human rights defenders and passionate young advocates made the training especially impactful for me."

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].

Pornpen Khongkachonkiet. Credit: Pornpen Khongkachonkiet

THAILAND

DTP advisory council member Somchai Homlaor, alumna Pornpen Khongkachonkiet, and Pornpimol Mukkuntod affirm that while there have been significant improvements since the passing of the Prevention and Suppression of Torture and Enforced Disappearance Act, concerns remain.

MYANMAR EARTHQUAKE

Call for donations - Naung shares the invitation by the National Unity Government to make a donation to the Emergency Relief Appeal for Myanmar Earthquake Victims. The appeal comes as many highlight that violations and airstrikes by military continue and aid must not help the military.

Panel for the launch of the SAFEnet 2024 Digital Rights Situation Report. Credit: SAFEnet

INDONESIA

Nenden Arum shares the SAFEnet 2024 Digital Rights Situation Report, showing that violations of rights to freedom of expression, internet access, digital security, and online gender-based violence continued in Indonesia following the election of President Prabowo amid wider concerns of democratic regression.

Participants at the National Workshop on the Indigenous Navigator Climate Change Survey. Credit: Shohel Hajang

INDIGENOUS PEOPLES RIGHTS

Shohel Chandra Hajang shares his report of the National Workshop in Nepal on the Indigenous Navigator Climate Change Survey which monitors the recognition and implementation of Indigenous peoples’ rights in the context of climate change and the SDGs.

Photo of Wensi Fatuban. Credit: Wensislaus Fatuban

INDONESIA / WEST PAPUA

Wensislaus Fatuban shares the call for submissions to Pacific Dynamics journal about a special issue on West Papua. Deadline for submissions is 4 July.

Photo of Yuyun Wahyuningrum. Credit: Yuyun Wahyuningrum

MYANMAR

Yuyun Wahyuningrum shares ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights statement condemning Myanmar military’s obstruction of earthquake relief efforts.

AUSTRALIA

Noel Zihabamwe participated in a webinar to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.

Portrait of C. R. Abrar. Credit: C. R. Abrar

INDIA / THE GULF

Rejimon Kuttappan continues to be very active in building awareness of the violations being experienced by India’s migrant workers. Recent articles in major Indian papers highlight the plight of the estimated 6000 plus Indian migrants in gaol in GCC countries – often in terrible conditions – and the need for immigration law reform to help workers avoid cyber-slavery" (Hindustan Times)

SRI LANKA

Tharushi Dishara shared her experience participating in the 58th Human Rights Council Session. She reflected on how participating in DTP’s 32nd Annual Program provided her with knowledge and skills to engage with a number of UN human rights mechanisms and diplomats for her advocacy regarding the Easter Sunday attacks in Colombo.

Human Rights Council chamber. Credit: Tharushi Dishara

Partner News

Tashi, human rights defender from Nepal, screenshot from FORUM-ASIA Hear Me Out series. Credit: FORUM-ASIA

FORUM-ASIA has launched Hear Me Out—a series featuring voices from Melamchi, sharing their lived experiences and the challenges they continue to face. The ADB-funded Melamchi Water Supply Project was designed to address Kathmandu Valley’s water crisis, yet it has left lasting harm on affected communities WATCH HERE

ASIA INDIGENOUS PEOPLES PACT shares article from Sirjana Subba on the ongoing No Cable Car movement at Mukkumlung (Pathivara) and why the Indigenous Peoples so strongly opposed to the construction of the cable car READ HERE

ASIA INDIGENOUS PEOPLES PACT share their statement on the arrest of former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte following the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) charges of crimes against humanity READ MORE

News from the Region

PAKISTAN South Asians for Human Rights strongly condemns the arrests of Marang Baloch and other leaders of the Baloch Yakjhti Committee, the use of force on peaceful protesters, and the continuation of enforced disappearances in Balochistan READ MORE

AUSTRALIA High Court upholds Federal Court decision allowing the Gumatj people of Arnhem Land to seek compensation for mining leases granted over the Gove Peninsula in the 1960s and setting a precedent for other Indigenous groups READ MORE

MALAYSIA Following lobbying of local and international buyers, company agrees to settle the wages of nearly 200 Bangladeshi migrant workers who have been unpaid for three months READ MORE

INDONESIA/WEST PAPUA ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights criticise Indonesian government for human rights abuses against Indigenous communities arising from development projects in Merauke without their free prior and informed consent READ MORE

INDONESIA ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights condemn the harassment and brutal treatment by police of demonstrators protesting against the new law leading to the increase of the military in parliament READ MORE

AUSTRALIA An urgent complaint has been made to the United Nations about Australia’s discriminatory youth justice systems and how they seriously violate the human rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children READ MORE

ASIA A look at how the new US tariffs on products from South-East Asian nations — including some of the region's most impoverished — and on the US's major security partners in Asia, including Japan and South Korea READ MORE

UN News and Calls to Contribute

A partial view of the mural "Mankind's Struggle for Lasting Peace" created by José Vela-Zanetti of the Dominican Republic. Credit: UN Photo/Manuel Elías

The Human Rights Council passes resolution to begin the intergovernmental process to draft an international human rights treaty on older people READ MORE

The Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities have issued Concluding Observations on the periodic reports of Palau, Tuvalu and Vietnam READ MORE

Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers calls for input for her next thematic report on artificial Intelligence and judicial systems, deadline 2 May READ MORE

Special Rapporteur in the field of cultural rights calls for contributions on artificial intelligence and creativity, deadline 5 May READ MORE

Special Rapporteur on the right to adequate housing calls for input: Land and the right to adequate housing, deadline 25 May READ MORE

Committee on the Rights of the Child calls for submissions on the draft of general comment No. 27 on children’s right to access to justice and to an effective remedy, deadline 30 June READ MORE

Resources

The Centre for Sports and Human Rights has published a Meaningful Engagement Tool in line with human rights standards, societal expectations, emerging industry good practice and new regulatory demands 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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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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