DTP E-Newsletter 131 - Working Together To Advance Human Rights Since 1989

DTP - BUILDING THE CAPACITY OF ASIA-PACIFIC HUMAN RIGHTS MOVEMENTS 1990 - 2021

Welcome to this edition of the eNews. Maintaining impartiality, we offer congratulations to the Fijian 7s Rugby team and all their supporters in winning the Olympic Gold medal in Tokyo Olympics. It is an inspiring story of winning against the odds that may resonate with many human rights defenders! In this issue we have news of DTP programs and of DTP alumni and updates on the human rights crisis in post-coup Myanmar.

DTP PROGRAMS

CHILDREN'S RIGHTS The recording of yesterday's webinar "Climate change, the rights of children and the duty of care" with Dr Noam Peleg and Anjali Sharma, is available to watch. WATCH HERE The follow up webinar with Ms Mikiko Otani, Chair, Committee on the Rights of the Child will be held on Tuesday 24 August 4pm AEST and will also have a focus on climate change. More information to follow.

BUSINESS, HUMAN RIGHTS AND THE SDGs AND CLIMATE EMERGENCY IN THE PACIFIC: 50 participants will be taking part in our 2nd online BHR Pacific program starting next week. DTP and OHCHR sign MoU to build collaboration on human rights in Pacific.

PNG AND HUMAN RIGHTS - UNIVERSAL PERIODIC REVIEW: Submissions made from participants in the program are available on the program website. READ MORE

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]

MALAYSIA

NGOs issue a joint statement calling for the release of Heidy Quah charged after exposing abuses in immigration detention centre.

READ THE STATEMENT

File photo of the Baghjan oil field engulfed in fire in Tinsukia, Assam (Photo: PTI)

INDIA

Tirtha Prasad share news of protesting villagers injured by police while demanding compensation for losses incurred from fire at Baghjan oil field in Assam

Many migrants were forced to wait at the KLIA car park with no fans to keep them cool in the hot weather.

MALAYSIA

Sumitha Kishna shares Attorney (and DTP alumna) Selva’s efforts to assist stranded and suffering undocumented migrant workers awaiting repatriation at Kuala Lumpur International Airport

Filipino People’s Call to End the Duterte Regime

PHILIPPINES

Paul Belisario calls for solidarity with the human rights and Indigenous peoples movements in the Philippines targeted by President Duterte regime

Sekretariat Solidariti Rakyat activists Tharma Pillai, Afiq Adib and Muhammad Alshatri with their lawyers, July 29, 2021. — Picture from Twitter/Asraf Sharafi

MALAYSIA

Sumitha Shaanthinni Kishna sends news of harassment and arrests of #Lawan activists

Poster for Money Heist COVID-19 Wage Theft webinar. Credit: Asia Floor Wage Alliance

INDONESIA/WEST PAPUA

NGOs protest the renewal of the Special Autonomy Law and the arrests of those opposed to it READ THE NGO STATEMENT

Video of demonstration sent by a DTP alumnus WATCH HERE

Press release sent from Yoab Syatfle READ THE STATEMENT

INDONESIA/WEST PAPUA

Human rights defenders and West Papuan student activists Roland Levy and Kelvin Molama were convicted in a Jakarta court and sentenced to 5 months imprisonment in a trial seen as political and unfair. Roland is a DTP alumnus and peaceful advocate for the human rights of the people in West Papua.

TAKE ACTION

Photo of Roland Levy. Credit: Bernie Goulding

AIPP Secretary General video expressing solidarity with Lumad people. Credit: AIPP

PARTNER NEWS

ASIA INDIGENOUS PEOPLES PACT calls for greater and practical self-determination of Indigenous peoples at EMRIP side event READ MORE

AIPP Secretary General expresses solidarity with the Lumad people of Mindanao, at EMRIP WATCH HERE

MIGRANT FORUM IN ASIA hosted a series of activities during a month-long anniversary of the Justice for Wage Theft campaign.

FORUM-ASIA co-hosts webinar “ASEAN Leaders’ Meeting on Myanmar: 100 Days Later – What’s Changed?” to assess and evaluate ASEAN’s response to the human rights situation in Myanmar, 4 August 10am BKK REGISTER HERE

Cover of the Pacific Human Rights Situational Analysis Report 2020

NEWS FROM THE REGION

PACIFIC The Pacific Human Rights Situational Analysis Report 2020 covers 16 Pacific Islands Countries READ THE REPORT

PNG/BOUGAINVILLE Affected communities and Australian partners use OECD Guidelines to win commitment from mining company Rio Tinto to fund an independent environmental and human rights impact assessment of former Panguna mine READ MORE

TIMOR-LESTE ‘Enhancing Equality and Inclusion’: UPR Submission by Amnesty International READ MORE

INDIA Death of priest in custody highlights persecution of human rights defenders under Modi government. Authorities accused of denying healthcare to land rights and anti-mining activist Father Stan Swamy. READ MORE and see article by Arundhati Roy HERE

THAILAND/MALAYSIA ASEAN parliamentarians urge governments to protect migrant workers equally during the COVID pandemic READ MORE

A relative wearing personal protective equipment prays before the burial service of a person who died of Covid-19 at a Muslim cemetery in Yangon, Myanmar, on July 16, 2021. Photo: AFP / NurPhoto / Myat Thu Kyaw

MYANMAR

Fear that up to 10% will die of COVID for lack of oxygen, masks and PPE brought about by junta inaction READ MORE

UN Special Rapporteurs Mary Lawlor and Tom Andrews call for increased international action to protect human rights defenders READ MORE

Special Advisory Council for Myanmar documents businesses that have suspended dealings with the junta and calls for new sanctions READ MORE

NGO calls for UN member states to help to combat COVID-19 and direct aid to humanitarian action, not to the military READ MORE

Environmental and land rights defender Man Zar Myay Mon has been tortured in detention and faces further ill-treatment TAKE ACTION

Photo of Trainer Virginia Dandan and participant from 2019 Annual Program

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 #131 July 2021

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