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

Welcome to this issue of DTP’s eNews. DTP offers its congratulations to DTP’s Founder and Patron, José Ramos-Horta on his election as the President of Timor-Leste. José Ramos-Horta’s example of peaceful, dedicated and creative advocacy for the people in Timor-Leste continues inspire so many working for human rights and peace in the region and globally, including DTP alumnus and Indigenous peoples Human Rights and Environmental Defender, Gebril Atong in Sarawak, Malaysia who we profile here. We also continue with profiles of DTP’s trainers who are such an important part of our wider human rights community, and this month profile, Professor Surya Deva. And there is program news, reports and resources we hope will be useful to you.

DTP PROGRAMS

RIGHTS OF THE CHILD: The next webinar Refugee and Asylum-seeking Children: Australia’s Obligations under International Law with Mary Crock (University of Sydney Law School) and Rasika Jayasuriya (UNICEF) is on 5th May 4pm AEST. REGISTER HERE

DIPLOMATIC OUTREACH FOR INDIGENOUS PEOPLES AND HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS: Applications close on 25 April for DTP’s new program building capacity to reach out to diplomats for support for human rights and the rights of Indigenous peoples (in partnership with AIPP). The program will run May-June 2022. FIND OUT MORE

UNPFII SIDE EVENTS: Strengthening Democracies in Asia through Recognition of Indigenous Peoples Right to Self-Determination as Enshrined with AIPP & IWGIA in UNDRIP 27 April REGISTER HERE

The Right to Free Prior Informed Consent and the Duty of Due Diligence: Business and the Rights of Indigenous peoples with AIPP & IWGIA 29 April REGISTER HERE

ADVOCACY AND HUMAN RIGHTS IN MYANMAR A CAPACITY BUILDING PROGRAM FOR THE DIASPORA: READ THE PROGRAM SUMMARY The program continues with a national workshop in Canberra 18-20 June. Email [email protected] to register interest. READ MORE on the MYANMAR HUMAN RIGHTS CRISIS HERE

HUMAN RIGHTS IN PNG - UPR 3rd Cycle: Amnesty International's statement following PNG's UPR references the work done by participants in the program READ HERE

COMING SOON: New capacity building program on submitting cases to the UN Human Rights Special Procedures – with PIANGO, Australian Lawyers for Human Rights and OHCHR-ROP. FIND OUT MORE

DTP TRAINER PROFILE: SURYA DEVA

Professor Surya Deva (Macquarie Law School, Sydney) is a member of the UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights. Surya is also one of DTP’s key trainers on Business and Human Rights, donating his time to build the capacity of human rights defenders and their movements.

“I don't see training in DTP’s courses as one-way traffic where I am just training human rights defenders; their stories, their experiences inspire my thinking too. This is a great opportunity for me to learn from them too".

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]

DTP ALUMNI PROFILE: GEBRIL ATONG

Gebril Atong is an Indigenous human rights rights defender from the Malaysian Punan Ba community in the state of Sarawak, Malaysia. Gebril’s story of rights advocacy is very personal. It also exemplifies the intersection of human rights and environmental defence – on the frontlines of the climate emergency.

“When you know people like you are out there who are struggling the same struggle as you, fighting for the same cause as you even though in a different country, this can motivate you. It makes you feel more confident. Meeting other human rights advocates in the DTP training was, therefore, a huge confidence booster for me. The DTP training helped me realize I am in the right position to fight for justice for my community”.

Photo of Gebril Atong. Credit: Gebril Atong

Attendees at the Regional Seminar on the UN Convention Against Torture. Credit: Yuyun Wahyiningrum

Yuyun Wahyuningrum organised and took part in the Regional Seminar on the UN Convention Against Torture

Photo of Sutharee Wannasiri. Credit: Fortify Rights

Sutharee Wannasiri advises that Accountability Counsel is hiring a Senior Communities Associate to work to ensure that communities can access justice for human rights and environmental violations in Asia

Site of proposed Dairi Prima Mineral zinc and lead mine. Credit: Inclusivedevelopment.net

INDONESIA

World Bank watchdog to review risky Dairi Prima Mineral mine project in North Sumatra: “The DPM mine is a disaster waiting to happen,” said Mr. Tongam Panggabean, Director of BAKUMSU, a legal group in North Sumatra that is acting as legal representative for the affected communities. “We will do everything in our power to stop it.”

2022 UN session. Credit: UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs Indigenous Peoples website

PARTNER NEWS

MIGRANT FORUM IN ASIA is engaging in the drafting process International Migration Review Forum Progress Declaration – LATEST DRAFT HERE from Regional UN Network on Migration for Asia and the Pacific.

ASIA INDIGENOUS PEOPLES PACT is engaging in the 21st Session of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) 25 April-6 May 2022. The theme is “Indigenous peoples, business, autonomy and the human rights principles of due diligence including free, prior and informed consent”. SEE AGENDA HERE

UN experts have written to the Australian government raising concerns about 46 citizens being held in camps in north-east Syria and ‘deprived of their liberty without any judicial process’. Photograph: Delil Souleiman/AFP/Getty Images

NEWS

BUSINESS AND HUMAN RIGHTS Comprehensive analysis of EU Commission’s proposal for a directive on due diligence READ MORE

BUSINESS AND HUMAN RIGHTS Coalition of over 130 CSOs in Germany launches campaign for an effective EU mandatory due diligence law READ MORE

MIGRANT WORKERS RIGHTS Wage theft and pandemic profits: The right to a living wage for garment workers READ MORE

MIGRANT WORKERS RIGHTS Football Team Sponsors Boycott Qatar FIFA World Cup READ MORE

AUSTRALIA UN Special Rapporteurs accuse Australia of failing to address human rights violations of 46 Australian citizens including 30 children detained in camps in Syria READ MORE

INDONESIA Women’s human rights groups advocacy success: Indonesia’s parliament adopts legislation against sexual violence READ MORE

SRI LANKA Human Rights Watch calls on the IMF to condition its economic policies about to be imposed on Sri Lanka on guarantees to protect the human rights of vulnerable groups READ MORE

SRI LANKA SAHR vehemently condemns the use of excessive force by the police on unarmed civilians’ protest in Rambukkana READ MORE

INDONESIA/MALAYSIA The two governments sign MoU on migrant workers READ MORE

Human Rights and Alliance of Civilizations Room, UN Geneva. Credit: UN

UN NEWS

CALL FOR INPUT: Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities invites submissions on armed conflict and disability READ MORE

CHINA CSO’s call for the UN Human Rights Commissioner to actively focus on detailed aspects of China’s human rights crisis in preparation for her visit READ MORE

4TH UPR CYCLE: contributions and participation of NGOs and NHRIs in the UPR – includes calendar of countries to be reviewed READ MORE

RESOURCES

OHCHR Communications to the Special Procedures READ MORE How to make a submission to the Special Procedures READ MORE

Report of International expert group meeting on the theme “Indigenous peoples, business, autonomy and the human rights principles of due diligence, including free, prior and informed consent” 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 #147 April 2022

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