DTP E-Newsletter 109 - Working Together To Advance Human Rights Since 1989

DTP - BUILDING THE CAPACITY OF ASIA-PACIFIC HUMAN RIGHTS MOVEMENTS 1990 - 2020

COVID-19 is intensifying focus on the actions, responsibilities and accountability of business. Calls to “build back better” using the SDG framework and campaigns demanding action now on stranded migrant workers, on the destruction of cultural and sacred sites, and to address the crisis of climate change, environmental destruction and modern slavery express growing social expectations, evidenced in new laws and standards. Since 2006, DTP has worked with partners to develop advocacy capacity on human rights and business and DTP’s first online programs, and this E-news, continue this focus.

For updated news, advice and human rights related action on COVID-19 pandemic please see the dedicated DTP web page. Please follow DTP’s socials and visit our website.

Best wishes and good luck,

Patrick Earle
Executive Director

Presenter at the 2019 Business, Human Rights and the SDGs in the Pacific, Fiji training program

DTP Business and Human Rights Programs - Call for Applications

DTP has opened applications for two new online programs, both of which will start in October 2020. Applications for both programs close Friday 18 September.

“Building Back Better” Business, Human Rights, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the Pacific with OHCHR ROP in partnership with BHHRC, CCF, PIANGO and UNSW IGD

Indigenous Peoples, Human Rights and Business: A Regional Capacity Building Strengthening Program for Indigenous Peoples Human Rights Defenders in partnership with AIPP

NEWS

AUSTRALIA An alliance of Aboriginal Land Councils is supporting shareholder/investor action to force mining giant BHP and others to stop destroying Indigenous sacred sites. READ MORE The Australasian Centre for Corporate Responsibility condemns Rio Tinto’s response to the destruction of Indigenous sacred sites in Jukaan Gorge, calls for removal of CEO. READ MORE

INDONESIA Unions are calling for signatures on a petition to stop the Indonesian government’s Omnibus Bill weakening laws that protect workers and the environment in order to facilitate foreign investment. READ MORE

MYANMAR Unionised garment workers win reinstatement and compensation following dismissal because of alleged reduction in orders because of Covid-19. READ MORE

AUSTRALIA Lawyer Bernard Collaery and “Witness K” have been prosecuted in secret for revealing the bugging of the Timor-Leste government offices in 2004 during oil and gas negotiations that would benefit Woodside Petroleum and other mining companies. CLICK HERE TO ENDORSE THE STATEMENT

GLOBAL The UN Draft Treaty on Business and Human Rights has moved a step closer to acceptance. A new draft meets most objections by governments, corporations and communities including the inclusion of state-owned enterprises and limiting state obligations to those treaties governments are already a party to. READ MORE

GLOBAL Political will needed to achieve SDGs says Philip Alston, outgoing UN Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights (and DTP International Advisory Council member) in his final report to UN, warning SDGs on poverty eradication, economic equality, gender equality, and climate change will not be met unless there is a rethink of attitudes to poverty eradication from governments and international financial institutions. READ MORE

SOLIDARITY IN ACTION FROM DTP ALUMNI

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

Fiji

Faranisese Ratu helped organise a celebration of the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples in Fiji.

Singapore

Jolovan Wham has lost his appeal against his sentence for illegal assembly for organising an event that included Hong Kong activist Joshua Wong. Jolovan has elected to go to prison for 10 days rather than to pay the fine.

TAKE ACTION

Papua New Guinea

Campaigners have stepped up activities to protect Sepik River from the proposed Freida River Mine. Emmanuel "Manu" Peni from the East Sepik Project has sent us the statement from the East Sepik Provincial government opposing the mine because of the inadequacy of the environmental impact statement.

Malaysia

Mohamed Rayhan Kabir who was supported by DTP alumni in Malaysia and who appeared in a TV documentary on the treatment of migrant workers has been deported to Bangladesh

Alumni Profile: Nukila Evanty

Nukila is the Executive Director of Rights Asia. She is currently working on issues of palm oil plantations, land degradation, land grabbing and forest fires for local people and Indigenous people. In March she founded, and chairs the Civil Society Coalition Against Corona (In Bahasa Indonesian - Koalisi Lawan Corona) (KLC). They inform people of their rights during the pandemic and monitor the related government policy and implementation.

"Human rights are indispensable. DTP empowered me to become more indispensable, to work for the outstanding issues on human rights."

Solidarity Selfie: Surya Deuja

Surya is a human rights advocate with two decades of experience working in national, regional and international organisations. He explains the big challenges facing Human Rights Advocates and Lobbyists during and after the COVID-19 pandemic before updating us on his latest projects in New York.

WATCH HERE

MFA Call for An Urgent Justice Mechanism for Repatriated Migrant Workers

NEWS FROM DTP PARTNER ORGANISATIONS

Migrant Forum in Asia issued a third appeal in its campaign for a Justice Mechanism for Repatriated Migrant Workers. In the context of Covid-19, MFA makes a series of recommendations for steps businesses should take to protect migrant workers from wage theft. READ MORE

Front Line Defenders has issued an urgent action on behalf of human rights defender Veronica Koman who is being harassed and threatened by the Indonesian government for her human rights defence work in West Papua. Veronica recently took part in a DTP-hosted webinar on West Papua. TAKE ACTION Funding Appeal established click here.

This year PIANGO, the Australian Council for International Development and the NZ Council for International Development will host a regional conference focusing on the SDGs, “Oceania Connect 2020” from 27 to 30 October. READ MORE

DTP's 2019 ANNUAL REPORT

Report is out now.

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.

Participants on DTP's 2019 Regional Workshop on Ethical Business and Recruitment Practices, Dubai

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU

One of DTP's strengths is you, our alumni and networks. As we see the Covid-19 pandemic spreading and the different responses of government, business and communities, you have never been more important in communicating impacts, and enabling/driving solidarity, action and accountability. If you have news, opinion pieces, resources or examples of best practice to share, or have questions on human rights and Covid-19, please send them to us at [email protected] Please stay safe.

Issue #109 August 2020

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We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which we work, the Bedegal people of the Eora Nation