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

Greetings and welcome to the last issue of DTP’s eNews for 2021.

This issue contains news from and of DTP alumni as they work to promote and protect human rights across Asia and the Pacific. There is a profile of Australian-Myanmar alumna, Melinda Tun, Steering Committee member for our current Myanmar Diaspora Human Rights Advocacy Program. She talks to the value and impact of investing in human rights defenders. The news from Myanmar, nearly one year after the military coup, shows the need for more action for human rights. DTP was honoured to co-host a special webinar on human rights in Cambodia on International Day for the Prevention of Genocide, and its last webinar for 2021 on children’s rights.

Thank you to all those that have made our work possible this year: DTP’s trainers and partners, our supporters and donors and our participants and alumni.

This has been a hard and sad year for so many, and as we bid it farewell, we hope for a better year for human rights, for peace and solidarity between peoples. We will be back with the next edition of the eNews in January 2022.

Seasons greetings and best wishes for the New Year

Patrick, Clare, Andre and the DTP team

DTP PROGRAMS

CHILDREN'S RIGHTS: The final child rights webinar of 2021 was on the intersection with disability, with Rosemary Kayess, Chair of the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disability and Julie Charlton WATCH HERE

HUMAN RIGHTS IN CAMBODIA - 30 YEARS AFTER THE PARIS PEACE AGREEMENT: Webinar on International Day for the Prevention of Genocide with The Hon Gareth Evans, Sopheap Chak, Cambodian Centre for Human Rights, and Karel Jiaan Antonio Galang,Asia Democracy Network, moderated by DTP alumna HE Yuyun Wahyuningrum WATCH HERE

ADVOCACY AND HUMAN RIGHTS IN MYANMAR A CAPACITY BUILDING PROGRAM FOR THE DIASPORA IN 2021: Program enters its 6th week of sessions as diaspora community advocates with a focus on effective international action to protect human rights and democracy in Myanmar. Watch presentation from Steering Committee member Htwe Htwe Thein on Business and Human Rights.

HUMAN RIGHTS LEADERSHIP TO INFLUENCE POLICY: Program participants met at the beginning of December for an update on their progress of their projects focused on peacebuilding, children’s rights, women’s rights, Indigenous peoples, digital rights and more. Noam Peleg's presentation on Child Rights is now available. WATCH HERE

PAPUA NEW GUINEA AND HUMAN RIGHTS - UNIVERSAL PERIODIC REVIEW: Phase III of the program will begin in early in 2022 ahead of the adoption of the report. The webcast of PNG's review in November is available WATCH HERE

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: MELINDA TUN

Melinda is an Australian lawyer of Burmese background, and a member of the Steering Committee for the current Advocacy and Human Rights in Myanmar: A Capacity Building Program for the Diaspora in 2021.

"DTP training helped us understand the significance of having practical knowledge on human rights advocacy for a country like Myanmar."

HUMAN RIGHTS DAY 2021

DTP alumni shared photos from human Rights Day activities in Sri Lanka, India and Vanuatu.

ASIA INDIGENOUS PEOPLES PACT and partners held a webinar on Human Rights Day Building credible evidences for effective advocacy; Launch of Bangladesh human rights situation report and ground reporting from IP Youths WATCH HERE

Collage of Human Rights Day activities. Credit: DTP alumni

Photo of Sepik River community members in a canoe. Credit: Save the Sepik

PAPUA NEW GUINEA

Emmanuel Peni share news that Project Sepik and Jubilee Australia have lodged a complaint with the OECD National Contact Point on behalf of 2,683 people from 64 villages along the Sepik River

VANUATU

Human Rights Day - Vanuatu Business and Human Rights Defenders' Hub speaks on corruption, and business and human rights

WATCH HERE

INDONESIA

Muhammad Syukron Anshori of Indigenous NGO AMAN sends opinion piece on campaign for the passage of a bill on the recognition and protection of Indigenous and tribal peoples in Indonesia

International Human Rights Day celebrations 2015. Credit: Melani Manel Perera, Asia News-KL

SRI LANKA

Nandana Manatunga – Sri Lankan government acts to stop community commemoration of International Human Rights Day 2021 in Kandy

MIGRANT WORKERS

Invitation to contribute to the Repository of Practices on what governments, organisations, and people around the world are doing to promote the well-being of migrants and their communities READ MORE

ILO report shows 1.6 billion people in Asia and the Pacific lack effective access to social health protection READ MORE

Video record of webinar “Migrant Worker Access to Justice for Wage Theft: A Global Study of Promising Initiatives” REGISTER HERE TO VIEW

Young people protesting against the military coup in Yangon, February 202. Credit: APHEDA1

MYANMAR

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights condemns four-year jail term for Aung San Suu Kyi in a “sham trial” READ MORE

Rohingya refugees sue Facebook for $150bn over Myanmar hate speech READ MORE

CRPH/NUG Support Group and 71 member organisations send Open Letter to Australian Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister regarding the human rights situation in Myanmar urging action READ THE LETTER

Eleven villagers shot and burned alive by Myanmar soldiers READ MORE

BBC documents abuse and torture of women in detention READ MORE

Deforestation in PNG. Credit: Isidor Kaupon

NEWS FROM THE REGION

US Magnitsky Act used to target human rights violators: On Human Rights Day 2021 following extensive CSO advocacy, the US Government uses Magnitsky act to place sanctions on 12 human rights abusers including in BANGLADESH, SRI LANKA and CHINA

INDONESIA UN Special Rapporteurs call for immediate stop to threats, intimidation and reprisals against human rights defender Veronica Koman and her family READ MORE

NEW CALEDONIA FLNKS and others decided not to participate in 3rd self-determination referendum READ WHY The MSG Secretariat supports call by pro-independence parties for the UN to declare the results of the Referendum null and void due to the non-participation of the Indigenous people of Kanaky READ THE STATEMENT

INDONESIA: FORUM-ASIA and the Indonesia Legal Aid Foundation are proud to present Going Nowhere: Fact-finding Mission Report on Indigenous Communities, Fisherfolk: Harassment, Poverty and Climate Change in Indonesia READ MORE

New CIVICUS report on how governments and businesses silence activists, disrupt and prevent climate actions and repress environmental, land and Indigenous rights defenders READ MORE

The European Union considers a law banning products tied to legal and illegal deforestation READ MORE

JOB OPPORTUNITIES AND RESOURCES

The Centre for Economic and Social Rights is looking for a new Executive Director, deadline 10 January READ MORE

Protecting and Supporting Human Rights Defenders: Public Guidelines from the Foreign Ministry of Finland READ THE GUIDELINES

Change Agency explanation of ‘strategy’, ‘tactics’, ‘goals’ and ‘objectives’ and their appropriate use in campaigning READ MORE

ActionAid Introduction to organising REGISTER HERE

Updated ISHR Practical Guide to the UN Special Procedures READ MORE

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 #140 December 2021

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