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

This issue of DTP’s eNews highlights the diversity of human rights advocacy activities by DTP alumni and partner organisations, continuing despite the restrictions of Covid-19 and efforts of governments to shut down space for civil society. DTP has been moving its support for these movements online, with new courses and amplifying the voices of its alumni as they seek solidarity. 

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
DEADLINE EXTENDED: DTP Business and Human Rights Program - Call for Applications

DTP has extended applications for the Indigenous Peoples, Human Rights and Business: A Regional Capacity Building Strengthening Program for Indigenous Peoples Human Rights Defenders in partnership with AIPP. Please send in late applications by October 16.

A man and a child paddle in a canoe on the Sepik River in the northern Papua New Guinea. Photograph: Renato Granieri/Alamy Stock Photo
DTP launches its 1st online training program

DTP began its 1st online course this week – on Business and Human Rights and the SDGs in the Pacific, as UN human rights experts raise concerns about a new mine proposed for the Sepik region of PNG, and in the lead-up to the 1st Pacific Regional Forum on Business and Human Rights to be held on Dec 1 & 2. 

The program has attracted over 40 participants from 16 countries across the Pacific. Sessions run twice weekly through October.

The Oceania Connect 2020 Regional Conference co-hosted by the Council for International Development (NZ), ACFID, and DTP partner PIANGO iis taking place 27-30 October. DTP-sponsored Concurrent Sessions are ‘Accelerating good governance and Indigenous autonomy’ and ‘Accelerating the SDGs in West Papua’’. REGISTER NOW

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]

Migrant workers in Singapore
ASEAN - Right to Health

Yuyun Whyuningrum writes that the Covid-19 pandemic highlights the need to focus on economic, social and cultural rights and improve human rights protection of vulnerable groups, including migrants, and that this is an obligation under the 2012 ASEAN Human Rights Declaration.

READ MORE
Poster advertising the zoom protest meeting against the brutal gang-rape of a Dalit woman
India

Peoples Watch and other NGOs are demanding action following recent rapes of Dalit women. The UN in India has called on the government to bring the perpetrators to justice and provide support for the victims. Henri Tiphagne shares an international ‘zoom’ protest meeting with current and former UN Special Rapporteurs.

READ MORE
The Awaj Foundation providing support to garment workers
Bangladesh - Workers & Migrant Workers

The Awaj Foundation is supporting garment workers who have lost their jobs because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Anisur Khan tells us that that 5746 families have been helped so far.

OKUP documents the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on Bangladeshi migrant workers. The report is based on a survey from workers in Saudi Arabia, Maldives, Qatar, Oman, Malaysia, Singapore, UAE, and Lebanon.

READ MORE
Myanmar

Responding to growing conflict in Rakhine and Chin States, Flora Mawi shares calls from Community Care for Emergency Response and Rehabilitation (CCERR) for all sides to protect civilians from violence and to reach a peaceful resolution to conflicts. READ HERE and HERE.

The UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar has condemned the killing of children during military assaults in Rakhine state. READ MORE

Human Rights in Southeast Asia in Times of Pandemic report cover
NEWS FROM DTP PARTNER ORGANISATIONS

WITNESS Arul Prakash from Witness has compiled a series of resources for Thais who are taking part in protests throughout Thailand. READ MORE

MIGRANT FORUM IN ASIA and the International Organization for Migration have signed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate on ethical recruitment and migrant worker protection. READ MORE

To further protect migrant workers impacted by Covid19 MFA is holding a Justice for Wage Theft poster competition ENTER HERE, and organising a Say Yes To Justice Now! petition SIGN HERE

CITIZENS CONSTITUTIONAL FORUM, FIJI marked International Peace Day on 21 September, paying tribute to the lives lost in peaceful protests around the world. READ THE STATEMENT

ASIA INDIGENOUS PEOPLES PACT is collaborating with the National Indigenous Women's Federation in Nepal in distributing its Position Paper on Indigenous Women's Land Rights listing 29 factors governments must consider to protect the land rights of Indigenous women. READ THE PAPER

Theonila Roka Matbob in front of mine pit
HUMAN RIGHTS NEWS

PNG/BOUGAINVILLE Two women MPs elected in Bougainville’s first election after the vote for independence in 2019 will serve in the cabinet of the new government. READ HERE. One of them is involved in a complaint to the Australian National Contact Point for the OECD Guidelines for MNEs about the continuing human rights and environmental impacts of waste from Rio Tinto’s abandoned Panguna Copper mine. Rio Tinto has agreed to enter mediation. READ MORE

LAOS Laos rejected 66 of 226 recommendations made during its UPR at the UN Human Rights Council. These covered repression of dissent and ‘disappearances’ including that of Sombath Somphone who was ‘disappeared’ in 2012. READ MORE

INDIA The UN Special Rapporteur on the right to adequate housing condemned the forcible eviction of 250,000 people along the railway line in Delhi. There was no consultation and people have been forbidden from appealing against the evictions. READ MORE

NEW CALEDONIA The second of three independence referenda resulted in an increase in votes for independence. Nic Maclellan argues that despite losing the vote, the outcome will ensure greater self-determination for the territory. READ HERE  

RESOURCES

UNITED NATIONS The International Service for Human Rights has developed a set of tools for human rights defenders on UN human rights accountability mechanisms. VIEW THE RESOURCES

DTP's 2019 Annual Report cover

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 #112 October 2020

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

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