For over 15 years Timorese advocate Aderito Soares has been sharing his knowledge and insights with DTP participants. He has a lifetime’s experience as an advocate for Timorese self-determination and human rights and as Inaugural Commissioner of Timor-Leste’s Anti-Corruption Commission (2010-2014).

"DTP helps its trainees to see human rights in a broader context --- participants are helped by DTP to see how power plays behind the struggles for human rights. DTP allows participants to see who the actors are, who the adversaries are and who the allies are while trying to put everything in the broader context of human rights. I think this is another one of DTP’s strengths.”

Rachel is the Manager of the System Reviews Team at the Queensland Family and Child Commission. One of her core responsibilities is to take a systematic look at the Queensland child protection system and the way in which key government and non-government agencies work together to keep children safe from harm. After participating in the DTP child rights workshop, Rachel changed her approach to working in the child protection system. 

“I had an epiphany when I did the course with DTP. Traditionally the child protection system in Queensland is based on a welfare model. After participating in DTP’s training, I started to look at it from a rights-based rather than a welfare-based approach.”

Agustinus Mahuze shares photos of community consultations and engagement with officials in Merauke as part of efforts to protect and preserve threatened Indigenous languages and cultures. The approach includes clan mapping and building advocacy skills of villagers.

Jason Siwat shares news from Caritas PNG of the rescue of five women survivors from Sorcery Accusation-Related Violence (SARV) in Enga Province, following killings of four women. Caritas and others have called for action to end SARV, a key issue highlighted in PNG’s recent UPR.

”To remain silent on the issue of SARV is to implicitly endorse this evil to gradually destroy our families, our homes, our societies and country as a whole”.

Aslam shares call for compensation for ill-treatment and abuse of Bangladeshi migrant workers employed by Malaysian company Brightways, a partner of Australian company Ansell and USA giant Kimberly-Clark.

“When they took us to Malaysia they promised us many good things… the company kept our passports… If the police stopped us we would be in trouble….”

Tirtha shares news that the Dibang Dam in Arunachal Pradesh has been approved to proceed despite opposition from groups and local Indigenous peoples fearing adverse impact on livelihoods, biodiversity, forests and lands, including in Assam and other downstream areas. It is the largest hydropower scheme in India. Advocacy to stop the dam will continue.

Mirza Jahanzeb Beg shares the fears of Muslim villagers for their safety after the release from prison of 11 men convicted for rape during the 2002 Gujarat riot.

Emdadul Haque outlines the human rights situation in Bangladesh and comments on the recent visit by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.

Kerry Weste shares news of successful court challenge to end the detention of children in an adult jail in Western Australia. Indigenous children are overrepresented in detention across Australia.

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.

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 #155 August 2022

You are receiving this newsletter as an alumnus, trainer and/or friend of DTP. To unsubscribe, please click here

E: [email protected]
P: +61 2 9385 3549

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