In the next contribution to our series on the human rights and environmental impacts of corporate and government practices on the seas and oceans in the Asia Pacific region, we provide a link to a statement from the International Union for Conservation of Nature. It includes the warning that deep sea mining could negatively impact the rights to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment, the rights to benefit from scientific progress, and Indigenous rights, including protection of cultural heritage. READ THE STATEMENT

In this issue, we profile Indonesian DTP alumnus Mimin Dwi Hartono, who has over 20 years' experience working with KomnasHAM, provide information about DTP's programs and upcoming webinars, share reports on recent programs and news from alumni, partners and the region, and calls from the UN for your engagement.

Publication Update: DTP's 2025 Annual Report

DTP has recently released its 2025 Annual Report. The report provides an overview of a successful year in which DTP delivered seven in-person programs and hosted a total of 186 participants. Programs were held in Australia, Thailand, Fiji, the Philippines and Timor-Leste. READ THE REPORT

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

CAPACITY BUILDING ON BUSINESS AND HUMAN RIGHTS, HUMAN RIGHTS DUE DILIGENCE AND THE OECD GUIDELINES

Jakarta, Indonesia, new dates – 8-12 May, 2026 in partnership with INFID. This program is for Indonesian NGOs and human rights and environmental defenders as Indonesia accedes to the OECD and develops its complaints process on Responsible Business Conduct. Applications closed 1 March READ MORE

34th ANNUAL HUMAN RIGHTS AND PEOPLES' DIPLOMACY TRAINING PROGRAM

Timor-Leste, August 22 - September 6, 2026. A record of over 1,500 EOIs and 500+ applications were received. Held 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 with AIPP, FORUM-ASIA, PIANGO and MFA.Trainers include President Horta and UNSW Professor Justine Nolan. Applications have closed and the candidate selection process is underway READ MORE

2026: HUMAN RIGHTS, CLIMATE CHANGE AND BUSINESS IN THE PACIFIC 

Suva, Fiji, 23-27 March, 2026 in partnership with PIANGO, FCOSS and OHCHR-PRO. The UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Development, Professor Surya Deva, was the lead trainer on the program which included 23 participants from 10 countries, including DTP’s first participants from Palau and Niue. The program was opened by the Honourable Filimoni Vosarogo, Fiji’s Minister for Lands and Mineral Resources, Regional Pacific Representative of the OHCHR Heike Alefsen, and Emeline Siale Ilolahia, Executive Director of PIANGO. READ MORE

2025: HUMAN RIGHTS DAY WORKSHOP ON ENGAGING WITH UN ANTI-TORTURE MECHANISMS

Sydney, Australia, 10 December, in partnership with STARTTS and the Whitlam Institute. Nineteen refugee and migrant community leaders participated in a capacity-building workshop lead by Steven Caruana on Human Rights day. Report to follow. 

2025: PACIFIC VOICES FOR CLIMATE CHANGE

Australia - November 12 - December 3, 2025 in partnership with PIANGO. 15 climate advocates from seven Pacific countries participated in this intense knowledge exchange and capacity building program. They met with academics, climate experts, parliamentarians, government officials and civil society. Australia's Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Hon Matt Thistlethwaite MP was special guest speaker at the Closing Reception hosted by DTP’s Chair, Michael do Rozario at Corrs Chambers Westgarth. The program was funded by DFAT’s Australia Awards Fellowships Program. WATCH DEBRIEF VIDEO FROM VANUATU FELLOWS and READ DRAFT REPORT HERE.

2025: BUILDING RESILIENCE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS AND DEMOCRACY THROUGH CAPACITY BUILDING

2025: 33rd ANNUAL HUMAN RIGHTS AND PEOPLING PROGRAMMES' DIPLOMACY TRAINING PROGRAM

See program highlights short video VIEW HERE

2025: REGIONAL INDIGENOUS PEOPLES HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS EXCHANGE - LEARNING AND TRAINING 2025

HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDER (HRD) GUIDELINES: A DTP AND FRONT LINE DEFENDERS WEBINAR SERIES

Watch Webinar 1: What are the HRD Guidelines?

BUSINESS AND HUMAN RIGHTS: THE OECD GUIDELINES ON RESPONSIBLE BUSINESS CONDUCT AND THE NATIONAL CONTACT POINTS (NCP) WEBINAR SERIES

Watch Webinar 1: Introduction to the Australian NCP

Watch Webinar 2: Promoting Human Rights through the Supply Chain

Watch Webinar 3: Free, Prior and Informed Consent

INDONESIAN ALUMNI WEBINAR SERIES: HUMAN RIGHTS, CLIMATE CHANGE, BUSINESS AND INDIGENOUS PEOPLES: INDONESIA'S FOOD ESTATE IN WEST PAPUA AND ITS IMPACTS 

Watch Webinar 1: Community Impacts of the Food Estate

Watch Webinar 2: Impacts on Community and Climate

Watch Webinar 3: Merauke and Indonesia's Climate Bomb

WEBINAR SERIES - HUMAN RIGHTS, DIGITAL RIGHTS AND AI An Introduction to Governing Digital Rights and Children's Online Rights

WEBINAR SERIES – Ending Impunity for Violators of Human Rights - The Magnitsky Acts and Australia in partnership with STARTTS. WATCH HERE 

HUMAN RIGHTS WEBINAR SERIES - UN Human Rights Accountability Mechanisms in partnership with STARTTS. WATCH HERE

GENOCIDE WEBINAR SERIES - three webinars on Genocide and the Genocide Convention in partnership with STARTTS. WATCH HERE

UN DECLARATION ON THE RIGHTS OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES (UNDRIP) WEBINAR SERIES NOW AVAILABLE HERE.

MIGRANT WORKERS the Business and Human Rights Centre new briefing, “Abuse without borders: Migrant workers' rights global analysis 2026” documents 747 cases of migrant worker abuse from all regions, pointing out that the climate crisis, growing inequality, and escalating conflict increase the human rights risks for migrants READ MORE

NEPAL the Business and Human Rights Centre shares criticism by the Nepal Trade Union Congress of the proposal by the new government to abolish trade unions which would be in breach of the Constitution and international conventions ratified by Nepal READ MORE

MIGRANT WORKERS the Business and Human Rights Centre shares report by Equidem on the migrant workers’ rights abuses by Uber, DoorDash and Delivery Hero subsidiaries in the Gulf countries READ MORE

INDIA/SOUTH KOREA the Business and Human Rights Centre shares concerns of CSOs at the continuing campaign by steel manufacturer POSCO to build a new steel plant project in Odisha that will result in human rights and environmental violations affecting residents and Indigenous communities READ MORE

DEMOCRACY the Asian Democracy Network has released its new report, "Defending Democracy: Mobilising Movements and New Frontiers for Citizen Action". The report is a synthesis of the various priority areas on defending democracy in Asia, and is intended to be a navigational tool for pro-democracy stakeholders in creating initiatives that promote and protect democracy in the region READ MORE

OHCHR calls for input into a study to assess the effectiveness of national frameworks for the protection of journalists, deadline June 1 READ MORE

In response to UN80, an internal reform initiative comprising 87 actions across 31 work packages, former UN Assistant Secretary-General Jordan Ryan, argues that what is needed to address the parlous state of the UN requires complete reinvention rather than incremental reform to improve resilience READ MORE

UN Civil and Political Rights Committee calls for input draft General Comment No. 38 on Article 22 (on the right to freedom of association) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, deadline 30 June READ MORE

DTP On Tuesday, 28 April 2026, DTP will host a special roundtable discussion with child and digital rights advocate Dr Victor P. Karunan at UNSW Law & Justice. Victor has worked for over 16 years in thought leadership with UNICEF in Bangkok, New York and Malaysia, and has over 35 years of experience working for children’s rights in over 40 countries in the Global North and Global South. The event will also be livestreamed CLICK HERE TO RSVP

UNSW Sue-Anne Hunter will be guest speaker at an upcoming event on children and young people.  Sue-Anne will share her vision for uplifting the lives and voices of Indigenous Youth in Australia. She will be joined in conversation by Isabella Higgins, host of ABC News' AM radio program. This event will be held at UNSW and also livestreamed CLICK HERE TO RSVP

Amnesty International Annual Report: State of the World's Human Rights documents assaults on multilateralism, international law and human rights around the world READ MORE

ISHR publishes interactive tools on strengthening the protection of human rights defenders, “Diplomatic Guidelines on the Protection of HRDs” for human rights defenders, and for diplomats READ MORE HERE and HERE

ISHR updated practical guide for civil society and human rights defenders for engaging with UN Special Procedures READ MORE

The Lighthouse Global Protection Fund delivers emergency assistance to human rights defenders and civil society organisations operating in high-risk environments worldwide.  Grants are available to eligible groups 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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