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

Welcome to this issue of DTP’s eNews with news from and about DTP alumni and their efforts to promote and protect human rights. COVID-19 and measures to contain it continue to take a terrible human cost – particularly on the already marginalised, as highlighted in this report by the UN Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Migrants. We continue to highlight the growing humanitarian and human rights catastrophe in Myanmar where repression multiplies the toll of the virus. There are new resources for human rights defenders and jobs being advertised. Take care.

DTP PROGRAMS

CHILDREN'S RIGHTS Registrations are now open for the next webinar in the series - "Using the Convention on the Rights of the Child in Practice - A View from the Bench" with NZ District Court Judge Tony Fitzgerald, Thursday 23 September 3pm AEST. REGISTER HERE

BUSINESS, HUMAN RIGHTS, THE SDGs AND THE CLIMATE EMERGENCY IN THE PACIFIC: "It was the whole experience: the content, the modes of presentation, the interaction with students, the inclusion of experts who work every day to bring to life the rights articulated in the various UN instruments." READ SUMMARY AND FEEDBACK HERE

HUMAN RIGHTS LEADERSHIP TO INFLUENCE POLICY: The Australia Awards in Indonesia funded project begins next week with 25 Indonesian human rights defenders. 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]

Photo of Chanchana Chakma. Credit: Chanchana Chakma

ALUMNI PROFILE: CHANCHANA CHAKMA

Chanchana is a founding member and Member Secretary of the Bangladesh Indigenous Women’s Network (BIWN). Chanchana says that Indigenous People believe that "land is our life" and tourism and multinational corporations are direct threats to Indigenous Peoples land in the CHT. BIWN are currently focused on advocating for increased education and health resources for Indigenous women and trying to establish victims’ counselling and support centres in Bangladesh.

Photo of Nukila Evanty. Credit: Nukila Evanty

ASIA

Nukila Evanty joins Advisory Board of RMIT’s Business and Human Rights Centre. She was a speaker at the Asia Centre's Forum on COVID-19 in Asia speaking on Xenophobia, Discrimination and Nationalism during Covid-19.

WATCH HERE

Displaced West Papuan villagers. Credit: DTP alumni

INDONESIA/WEST PAPUA

Locals forcibly displaced by Indonesian military as conflict grows in absence of progress on self-determination process

COOK ISLANDS

Imogen Ingram highlights concerns at unsustainable large scale fishing subsidised by foreign governments and threatening the livelihoods, environment and economic sustainability of the Cook Island and its fisheries. Imogen presented on this during the recent DTP program Business, Human Rights, the SDGs and the Climate Emergency in the Pacific

Outside the court house for the Tzen Niugini Logging and Oil Palm Credit: DTP alumni

PAPUA NEW GUINEA

Environmental and Human Rights Defender, Isidor Kaupun provided an update on their court case against Tzen Niugini Logging and Oil Palm company in East New Britain. Their case has been adjourned to 1st October 2021. He passes on thanks to all who have given support

MALAYSIA

Bina Jaya and DTP alumni share the news on winning the case for equal citizenship of Malaysian mothers born abroad. Bina thanks DTP for the training they received.

PARTNER NEWS

FORUM-ASIA and HRLA call on Thai government to end the use of disproportionate and unnecessary force against protesters READ MORE

MIGRANT FORUM IN ASIA Policy briefs for India and Bangladesh concerning wage theft for migrant workers have been released READ MORE Sign the petition to Say Yes To Justice TAKE ACTION

PIANGO webinars of action on the SDGs in the Pacific REGISTER HERE

FORUM-ASIA calls on regional and international partners, South Asia governments, and the UN Human Rights Council to act in defence of human rights defenders and other at-risk groups READ MORE

Sorong district head Johny Kamuru meets university students who voice their support for the district head in the lawsuits filed by three palm oil companies in West Papua, Indonesia. Image by Asrida Elisabeth/Mongabay Indonesia.

NEWS FROM THE REGION

PACIFIC SAVE THE DATE: The 2nd UN Pacific Forum on Business and Human Rights will be held on 22-24 November 2021. This will build on the 1st Forum held in December 2020: READ MORE

NEPAL Amnesty International documents Qatar’s refusal to investigate ‘unexplained’ deaths of migrant workers READ MORE For weekly updates on Nepali migrant workers REGISTER HERE

AUSTRALIA Government fails to meet agreed international standards in the appointment of new Human Rights Commissioner READ MORE and HERE

INDONESIA/WEST PAPUA Amnesty International petition calling for the immediate release of Victor Yeimo SIGN HERE

AFGHANISTAN SAHR calls on the Taliban to respect and protect the rights of Afghan women and girls and not to let history repeat itself READ THE STATEMENT

INDONESIA/WEST PAPUA The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders calls for urgent action about the harassment against Fatia Maulidiyanti and Haris Azhar TAKE ACTION

MYANMAR

National Unity Government calls on eight international corporations to stop investments under the military junta READ MORE

In solidarity with the Peoples of Myanmar, South Asians for Human Rights publishes comprehensive list of updates on the coup READ MORE

ASEAN envoy to Myanmar calls for 4-month cease-fire to deliver aid READ MORE

AVAAZ petition in support of Myanmar's people including Ethnic minorities fighting for Democracy and Freedom SIGN THE PETITION

CALL FOR INPUT

OHCHR Questionnaire on various aspects of girls' and young women's participation and activism in political and public life, deadline 1 October READ MORE

RESOURCES

A collection of program resources from DTP's recent Business, Human Rights, the SDGs and the Climate Emergency in the Pacific are now available READ MORE

Access Now’s Digital Security Helpline works with individuals and organisations around the world to keep them safe online READ MORE

IWGIA Data collection tool to monitor innovating Indigenous education and progress towards the fulfilment of Indigenous human rights and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) READ MORE

JOB OPPORTUNITY

ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights is seeking an Advocacy and Campaigns Officer to lead the organisation’s work on the Climate Change and Human Rights portfolio, deadline 1 October APPLY HERE

The OHCHR Business and Human Rights Unit is currently accepting new interns to support its work, both for the period September-December 2021 and for all 2022 APPLY HERE

Amnesty International seeking Senior Human Rights Education Advisor, deadline 26 September READ MORE and APPLY HERE

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 #134 September 2021

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