DTP - BUILDING THE CAPACITY OF ASIA-PACIFIC HUMAN RIGHTS MOVEMENTS 1990 - 2022

Welcome to this issue of DTP’s eNews, highlighting International Women’s Day on March 8th, and recognising the work of women human rights defenders such as Braema Mathi in Singapore. “Equality today for a sustainable tomorrow” is theme this year, highlighting the impacts of the climate crisis and demanding action, emphasising that women’s rights are human rights. This issue has news and updates from DTP alumni and partners, updates on programs, funding opportunities and resources that we hope are useful to you.

Participants of the Indonesia Human Rights Leadership to Influence Policy program. Credit: AAI

DTP PROGRAMS

TIMOR WAS INVADED!: WEBINAR was held on Wednesday 16th February. Jose Ramos-Horta, Kirsty Sword among others highlighted the links forged between Timorese and Australians in WWII and their importance today as the Timorese support Australian lawyer and whistleblower Bernard Collaery. With the Alliance Against Political Prosecution and Timor Sea Justice Forum. WATCH HERE

INDONESIA HUMAN RIGHTS LEADERSHIP TO INFLUENCE POLICY: DTP alumna and Indonesia's representative to AICHR, Yuyun Wahyuningrum presented on influencing ASEAN on Human Rights Policy in the post-program workshop held in Jakarta – 21-24/02/22 SEE HERE Program participants presented their projects on diverse human rights issues as well as discussed their future plans PROGRAM BACKGROUND DOCUMENT and SCHEDULE

RIGHTS OF THE CHILD: The Child Rights webinar series will recommence next month. More details will be announced shortly.

HUMAN RIGHTS IN PNG - UPR 3rd Cycle: The UPR report on PNG will be adopted at the upcoming Human Rights Council session in March. DTP partners and participants will host a side-event on March 22 ahead of adoption. PNG’s commitment to abolish the death penalty has been welcomed by Amnesty International and others READ MORE

ADVOCACY AND HUMAN RIGHTS IN MYANMAR A CAPACITY BUILDING PROGRAM FOR THE DIASPORA: Participants met last week for an evaluation and reflection session on phase I of the program. “It is a very good program, where the participants can learn different methods and approach of human rights advocacy”. Phase II will begin in April.

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 Braema Mathiaparanam. Credit: Braema Mathiaparanam

ALUMNI PROFILE: BRAEMA MATHIAPARANAM

Braema is a prominent Singaporean human rights activist, a former journalist with Singapore’s most prestigious newspaper The Straits Times and an ex-Nominated Member of Singapore’s Parliament. She has worked on gender rights, LGBTQ rights, civil liberties (especially anti-death penalty campaign), political pluralism, and the rights of the migrant workers in Singapore.

“It was intense upliftment in terms of knowledge from experts, an open discourse where I had many opportunities to ask questions and understand issues better, plus a reading list. All which help you to move fast in a short period”.

PAPUA NEW GUINEA

Emmanuel Peni shares his presentation to the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues Regional Dialogue: “Indigenous People’s Autonomies and Self Government: the Pacific” READ MORE

THAILAND/MYANMAR

Tual Sawn Khai highlights cases and increased vulnerability of migrant workers from Myanmar in Thailand READ MORE

AUSTRALIA/MYANMAR

Ko Saulsman quoted as advocates target Australian government’s Future Fund investments in Myanmar READ MORE

MALAYSIA

Alumni share the good news of Judge ordering children to be returned to their mother after being taken away by a woman's estranged husband READ MORE

Cover of Demonstrating change on locally led humanitarian action in the Pacific: Ki Namuka vata ga nikua report

PARTNER NEWS

MIGRANT FORUM IN ASIA releases the 3rd volume of its analysis report series, "Crying Out for Justice: Wage Theft Against Migrant Workers during COVID-19" READ MORE

FORUM-ASIA Statement: ASEAN must block Myanmar’s military junta participation from all its platforms READ MORE

International Women's Day 2022 banner. Credit: Burcu Köleli for UN Women (2022)

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY - 8 MARCH

Asia-Pacific Regional Commemoration of International Women’s Day 2022 “Equality Today for a Sustainable Tomorrow” READ MORE and REGISTER HERE

Children working in construction. Credit: The Rising Nepal

NEWS FROM THE REGION

BANGLADESH Physical assault and ongoing threats against woman human rights defender Mariyam Akhter Pakhi and her family members TAKE ACTION

PAPUA NEW GUINEA Nineteen journalists including Sincha Dimara suspended for running stories about the arrest of Australian businessman Jamie Pang READ MORE

CHINA Human rights lawyer Yu Wensheng must be freed with no conditions and allowed to carry out his professional duties without fear of reprisals TAKE ACTION

MYANMAR Japanese drinks company targeted by advocates will withdraw from Myanmar over concerns about human rights READ MORE

SRI LANKA SAHR expresses concern over attempted government intimidation of Sri Lankan human rights lawyer Ambika Satkunanathan for her critical assessment of the human rights situation in the country READ MORE

MYANMAR Marzuki Darusman, Chairperson of the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Myanmar expresses hope that ASEAN can still play a positive role in recognising the National Unity Government READ MORE

NEPAL 1.1 million children are engaged in labour in Nepal reports the National Planning Commission and ILO READ MORE

INDIA Human rights defender and journalist Fahad Shah arrested by Jammu and Kashmir police READ MORE and TAKE ACTION

BANGLADESH ITUC video on inhumane treatment of Bangladeshi workers VIEW THE VIDEO and JOIN THE CAMPAIGN

AUSTRALIA Traditional Indigenous owners launch legal challenge against Northern Territory’s largest groundwater extraction licence READ MORE

FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES AND RESOURCES

Repository of Practices provides practical examples on the provision of health, housing, education, vocational training, and basic public services such as water and sanitation READ MORE

Provisional program for the UN Human Rights Council session 28 February-1 April VIEW THE DRAFT

UN hosts High-level Event on Environmental Human Rights Defenders, Geneva 1 March REGISTER HERE

West Papua Support Network online forum on the environmental situation in the Pacific re-scheduled to March 16 at 2:00-4:30pm followed by two-day training REGISTER HERE

Registration Open for the 3rd UN South Asia Forum on Business and Human Rights 28-30 March REGISTER HERE

CALLS FOR INPUT

The CRC has opened a consultation for General Comment 26 on Children’s Rights and the Environment with a Special Focus on Climate Change READ MORE

The UN Human Rights Council is calling for inputs on the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the human rights of young people READ MORE

The UN SR on violence against women is calling for inputs on Report on violence against women and girls in the context of the climate crisis 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 #143 February 2022

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