DTP E-Newsletter 121 - Working Together To Advance Human Rights Since 1989

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

In this DTP e-News our focus on Myanmar continues in solidarity with the democracy and human rights movements there – recognising that more human rights defenders in more countries face growing restrictions and threats as highlighted by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights [PE3] in her Global Update to the Human Rights Council. WATCH HERE. The critical role of NHRIs in protecting HRDs and their civic space is the focus of this webinar from Asia Pacific Forum on 17 March REGISTER HERE

This issue includes news from and about alumni, DTP’s programs and funding/job opportunities.

DTP PROGRAMS

CHILDREN'S RIGHTS: Next CRC webinar with YLA and ALHR is "Addressing Poverty: children's rights and Australia's obligations", with former Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights Professor Alston and Professor Sharon Bessell, Director of Gender Equity and Diversity, ANU. Wednesday 24 March 9am AEDT. REGISTER HERE

HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE PACIFIC: Over 80 participants in DTP's Papua New Guinea and Human Rights - Universal Periodic Review online program have been raising issues such as violence against women, sorcery killings, albinism, LGBT+, business and human rights, the environment and human rights, HIV discrimination, the rights of older people and cyber crime. Submissions are due 25 March.

INDIGENOUS PEOPLES RIGHTS: The report is out for DTP's first online course on "Indigenous Peoples, Human Rights and Business Regional Capacity Building Program for Indigenous Peoples Human Rights Defenders" held with AIPP.

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]

Alumni Profile: Nasrikah Paidin

Nasrikah is an Indonesian migrant domestic worker and advocate living in Malaysia since 1997. Her own experiences inform her understanding of the vulnerabilities, abuses and lack of justice for migrant workers in Malaysia and inspires her advocacy. She works with Persatuan Pekerja Rumah Tangga Indonesia Migran (PERTIMIG) campaigning with Malaysian CSOs on urgent cases and for migrant domestic workers to be acknowledged as workers under Malaysian law.

Malaysia

“Workers not servants”: Migrant domestic worker, advocate and DTP alumna Liezl Galdo joins Malaysian CSOs Forum calling for legal protection of migrant domestic workers.

Indonesia/West Papua

DTP alumnus Roland Levy and Kelvin Molama, two human rights defenders from the West Papua Student Alliance have been detained by the police in Jakarta and their case has been adopted by Front Line Defenders for urgent action.

TAKE ACTION

Photo of Aboriginal protest in Melbourne. Getty Images

NEWS FROM THE REGION

INDONESIA/WEST PAPUA Human Rights lawyer Veronica Koman contrasts Indonesia’s criticism of the Myanmar coup while its army represses freedom of speech in West Papua READ MORE

INDIGENOUS CHILDREN Human Rights Watch submission to the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples calls on governments to focus on mitigating the disproportionate effects of COVID-19 on Indigenous children and youth. READ MORE

THAILAND Three prominent activists calling for a reforms of the monarchy held in pre-trial detention under lese majeste laws face up to 15 years in prison. READ MORE

AUSTRALIA Danila Dilba launches court action over approval of a Woolworths liquor store without Free Prior and Informed Consent and threatening health of Indigenous peoples. READ MORE and TAKE ACTION

FORUM-ASIA poster for International Women's Day

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY / WOMEN'S RIGHTS

AUSTRALIA Rosemary Kayess and Somali Cerise, emphasise intersectionality and need for a rights approach to achieve gender equality and an end to discrimination READ MORE

BANGLADESH Joint IWD statement by AFAD and Odhikar highlights women’s empowerment and gender equality in Bangladesh is dependent on upholding human rights and ensuring participative democracy. READ THE STATEMENT

ASIA-PACIFIC The Australian Human Rights Institute and The George Institute for Global Health launch the CEDAW Implementation Map in the Asia Pacific Region. Wednesday 24 March 2021 on Zoom at 1pm (AEDT). REGISTER HERE

MYANMAR

The Asian Peace and Reconciliation Council calls on Myanmar to stop the use of lethal force and to free of Aung San Suu Kyi. READ THE STATEMENT

Former UN human rights experts launch a vehicle for CSOs, human rights defenders and activists to speak out against the abuses by the military junta. READ MORE

The UN Special Envoy for Myanmar has called for the Security Council to heed the calls of the people of Myanmar for an end to the violence and the restoration of democratic institutions. READ MORE

ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights has urged the UN Security Council to immediately send an intervention and monitoring mission to Myanmar, and for immediate targeted sanctions to be placed against the military and its economic holdings. READ MORE

Migrant construction workers in Qatar. Photo credit Sam Tarling/Getty Images

MIGRANT WORKERS

QATAR 6,500 migrant workers have died in Qatar since the 2022 World Cup was awarded to Qatar. READ MORE. In response to calls for boycotts of Qatar and FIFA, international NGOs have recommended actions the government needs to take to protect workers. READ MORE

COVID-19 The UN has called for all migrant workers to receive vaccines regardless of their status or countries of origins. READ MORE

QATAR Amnesty International reports efforts by business to reverse reforms on the Kafala system and the right of migrant workers to change jobs READ MORE.

Solidarity gathering in Dhaka protesting Marriott development in in Chimbuk hill area

PARTNER NEWS

FORUM-ASIA with CIVICUS held the side event Protection for Human Rights Defenders in Asia: At the frontlines of movements for human rights and democracy at the 46th Human Rights Council. WATCH HERE.

AIPP's Shohel Hajong (and DTP alumnus) shares that Mro peoples campaign for land, culture and rights continues as army involvement in commercial development and forced displacement becomes clearer. READ MORE. Marriott Hotels tells UN human rights experts it did not permit use of its name in luxury resort displacing the Mro people, supports human rights and is not involved in land acquisitions. READ THE LETTER

JOB AND FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

Applications open for grants from two Women’s Fund Asia programs: Leading from the South and Strengthening Feminist Movements; deadline April 2. APPLY HERE and HERE

The Institute for Human Rights and Business (IHRB) is recruiting a Regional Coordinator to lead its outreach and engagement across South Asia; deadline April 6. APPLY HERE

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 #121 March 2021

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