DTP E-Newsletter 118 - Working Together To Advance Human Rights Since 1989

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

Welcome to this first issue of E-News for 2021. DTP continues to support those working for human rights in this challenging time of COVID. The values of human rights, the responsibilities they impose and the international cooperation and solidarity they call for are becoming ever more important. The realisation of human rights depends on the efforts and commitment of human rights defenders and civil society. DTP’s E-News will highlight the work of DTP alumni and civil society for human rights and peace and we thank you for your continuing support.

CHILDREN'S RIGHTS: DTP’s 3rd webinar on the Convention on the Rights of the Child and its implementation in Australia will be 7:00PM AEDT on Tuesday 9 February. It will feature the Children and Young Peoples Commissioner of Scotland, Bruce Adamson, Faith Gordon and Noam Peleg, the Best Practice in Implementing the CRC - Scotland a Case Study. More info on CRC Program here.

HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE PACIFIC: DTP's next capacity building program, Papua New Guinea and Human Rights - Universal Periodic Review, will begin in February. Over 80 applications have been received from across PNG. Applicants will be contacted shortly about the progress of their application.

Please use the sharing tools found via the share button at the top or side of articles. Copying articles to share with others is a breach of FT.com T&Cs and Copyright Policy. Email licensing@ft.com to buy additional rights. Subscribers may share up to 10 or 20 articles per month using the gift article service. More information can be found at https://www.ft.com/tour. https://www.ft.com/content/f63adfa4-1b63-4e9c-809e-138815d9ee50 Cerrejón is one of the largest open-pit mines in the world and has been the source of disputes with activists and the local community over water use, pollution, dust, noise and health problems © Nicolo Filippo Rosso/Bloomberg

NEWS FROM DTP PARTNER ORGANISATIONS

MIGRANT FORUM IN ASIA invites support for the Clean Clothes Campaign for regular wages for workers during the pandemic and the provision of severance pay and back wages if they lose their jobs. READ MORE

AIPP Calls on Bangladesh government to investigate and punish the abduction, forced conversion, child marriage, rape, and instigation to suicide/murder of 14 year-old Lakingme Chakma. READ MORE

FORUM-ASIA In 2021 Brunei Darussalam is the Chair of ASEAN. FA held a webinar to discuss what their chairmanship means for human rights, COVID19 recovery plans and geopolitics. WATCH THE WEBINAR FA's Executive Director, Shamini Darshni Kaliemuthu extends her wishes for 2021. WATCH THE VIDEO

DTP ALUMNI IN ACTION

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]

Solidarity Selfie: Nukila Evanty

Nukila Evanty, Executive Director of Rights Asia and Women's Working Group Indonesia, has been fighting for social justice during the COVID-19 pandemic.

WATCH THE VIDEO

Solidarity Selfie: John Tripura

Human Rights Activist and writer John Tripura describes the challenging circumstances facing Bangladesh's Indigenous population during the the Coronavirus pandemic.

WATCH THE VIDEO

Papua New Guinea

Warime Guti, Marie Mondu and Jonathon Mesulam and PIANGO call for endorsements against deep sea mining by Wafi-Golpu gold mine off the coast of Morobe Province in PNG, deadline 5 February.

SEND ENDORSEMENT

Migrant workers queuing outside building

Malaysia

Sumitha Kishna and Jerald Joseph, Malaysian Human Rights Commissioner, call for COVID vaccine to be free for all including all migrants, regardless of nationality or status.

Fiji

Nalini Singh, Chair of the Fiji NGO Coalition on Human Rights welcomes appointment of Fiji as Chair of UN Human Rights Council but urges Fiji to address its own human rights shortcomings. For webinar to meet the new President, Ambassador Nazhat Shameem Khan, REGISTER HERE

Banner for 2nd UN South Asia Forum on Business and Human Rights

NEWS FROM THE REGION

SOUTH ASIA 2nd UN South Asia Forum on Business and Human Rights, 17-19 March FOLLOW HERE

BANGLADESH Amnesty International joins local and international groups in condemning illegal construction of Marriott resort without free and prior consent from Mro Indigenous community. READ MORE

NEPAL The case for compensation to migrant workers for loss of wages READ MORE The Campaign asks you to say yes to wage justice HERE.

INDONESIA/WEST PAPUA Nataniel Tipagau, the Chairman of the West Papua National Committee (KNPB) local branch in Intan Jaya, arrested. LBH Papua refused access. READ MORE

HUMAN RIGHTS AT THE UN

AUSTRALIA UPR 120 countries call on Australia to act on human rights – highlighting refugee and asylum policies, discrimination against Indigenous peoples and migrants, and to adopt CRC recommendations to raise minimum age of criminal responsibility. READ HERE, HERE and READ THE RECOMMENDATIONS

UN SPECIAL PROCEDURES ASK FOR YOUR INPUT:

EXPERT MECHANISM ON THE RIGHTS OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES calls on all stakeholders to make submissions on its Report on Self-Determination under the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and its Study on the Study on the Rights of the Indigenous Child under the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Deadline 1 March.

DISINFORMATION The UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression is calling for submissions on key challenges raised by disinformation. READ MORE

FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES / FELLOWSHIPS

The UN Voluntary Trust Fund on Contemporary Forms of Slavery and the UN Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture call for applications for the 2022 grant cycle open from 15 January to 1 March 2021. Contact Philippe Liondjo [email protected] (Slavery Fund) or Philippe Tissier [email protected] (Torture Fund).

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 #118 January 2021

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