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

Welcome to this issue of DTP’s eNews, with information about DTP’s programs and activities, news of and from DTP alumni working for human rights and news, updates and resources, which we hope are of interest. DTP Trainer Matthew Keeley, Director of DTP partner, Youth Law Australia, is profiled this issue, along with DTP alumnus from Bangladesh, Khokon Murmu.

James Fitzgerald, Mubashar Hasan, Patrick Earle, Jose Ramos Horta, Clare Sidoti, Michael do Rozario and Justine Nolan. Credit: DTP

José Ramos Horta Visit

DTP hosted a special lunch in Sydney on Friday 9th September with its Founder and Patron, President José Ramos Horta at the end of his state visit to Australia. DTP supporters, Board members and staff were joined by diplomatic representatives at Corrs Westgarth Chambers for a discussion reflecting on DTP’s work and current challenges for human rights and democracy.

DTP PROGRAMS

RIGHTS OF THE CHILD: The recording of the Children's Rights and Access to Justice webinar with Professor Ton Liefaard and Professor Ursula Kilkelly is now available WATCH HERE The next CRC Webinar on 28th September will focus on the CRC and Access to Education. Next CRC F2F Workshop in Melbourne – November 5th and 6th. Contact [email protected] for more details.

MYANMAR DIASPORA HUMAN RIGHTS CAPACITY BUILDING PROGRAM: Follow-up sessions across Australia. Programs in New Zealand and Thailand are planned for October (NZ) and November (Thailand). Contact DTP for more info: [email protected]

4TH ASIA BUSINESS AND HUMAN RIGHTS FORUM: September 20-22 - DTP Alumni Reflection and Strategy Planning Roundtable for DTP alumni participating in BHR Forum. Please contact [email protected] for details.

ASIA REGIONAL CONFERENCE/DIALOGUE ON INDIGENOUS SELF-GOVERNANCE, CIVIC SPACE, DEMOCRACY AND PLURALISM, Chaing Mai, Thailand, September 28 & 29 – in partnership with Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact, International Working Group on Indigenous Affairs and Global Centre on Pluralism. For more information/applications contact [email protected] WATCH THE VIDEO of AIPP's Secretary General Gam A. Shimray gives a masterclass on shrinking civic spaces and the impact on Indigenous peoples.

DIPLOMATIC OUTREACH FOR INDIGENOUS PEOPLES AND HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS: (in partnership with AIPP) The start of this program has been delayed. More information will be sent to participants shortly. FIND OUT MORE

CAPACITY BUILDING PROGRAM ON UN HUMAN RIGHTS SPECIAL PROCEDURES - Submitting Cases – with PIANGO, Australian Lawyers for Human Rights, CCF and OHCHR-ROP. The start of this program has been delayed. More information will be sent to applicants shortly. FIND OUT MORE

Photo of Matthew Keeley. Credit: Matthew Keeley

TRAINER PROFILE: MATTHEW KEELEY

Matthew is the Director of Youth Law Australia and a key partner in DTP's child rights program. A lawyer, advocate, access to justice campaigner, and researcher, Matthew is passionate about his work and the value of sharing knowledge and experience to advance rights.

"There are so many ways to contribute to promoting and protecting human rights and children’s rights, and amongst them all I especially value the collaborations that DTP facilitates, and its approach in supporting respectful dialogue on how human rights can be implemented by us all".

READ MORE

ALUMNI PROFILE: KHOKON SUITEN MURMU

Khokon is a Bangladeshi Indigenous rights advocate working as a National Committee member of Bangladesh Indigenous Peoples Forum and project coordinator at Kapaeeng Foundation. Khokon says his participation in DTP’s 2019 Annual Program in East Timor bolstered his capacity and made him more confident in engaging with foreign diplomats. Khokon is on study leave doing a Masters of Environmental Management and Sustainability (MEMS) in Australia.

“One of the immediate impacts of the DTP training was for me to produce a media advocacy video around a local business and human rights issue. I also published articles in Bangladeshi newspaper after being inspired by DTP’s training.”

READ MORE
Photo of Khokon Suiten Murmu. Credit: Khokon Suiten Murmu

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]

Twitter app logo is seen in this illustration taken, August 22, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration

INDIA

Mirza Jahanzeb Beg shares concerns about the compromise of data on social media platform Twitter

READ MORE
Representational tea workers image. Credit: Financial Express

BANGLADESH

Anisur Rahman Khan asks the 4th Asia-Pacific UN Responsible Business and Human Rights Forum meeting on 20-22 September in Bangkok to consider the plight of tea garden workers

READ MORE
Malaysian mothers wait at the Court of Appeal in Putrajaya for a verdict in their lawsuit seeking the right to citizenship for their children, who were born overseas to foreign fathers, Aug. 5, 2022. Credit: S. Mahfuz/BenarNews

MALAYSIA

Diana Kurisunka UN Special Procedures condemnation of court decision to deny Malaysian women married to foreigners to pass on Malaysian citizenship to children born abroad

READ MORE
Photo of protest in West Papua. Credit: DTP alumni

WEST PAPUA / INDONESIA

Alumnus send account of the torture of 3 West Papuans and the killing of another by Indonesian soldiers in the Mappin Regency

READ MORE
Defenders Are Not Criminals campaign. Credit: FORUM-ASIA

PARTNER NEWS

FORUM-ASIA launches Defenders Are Not Criminals campaign on judicial harassment against human rights defenders in Asia READ MORE See campaign on judicial harassment of Khurram Parvez in Kashmir HERE

ASIA INDIGENOUS PEOPLES PACT's Secretary General Gam A. Shimray gives a masterclass on shrinking civic spaces and the impact on Indigenous peoples WATCH THE VIDEO

CITIZENS' CONSTITUTIONAL FORUM expresses concerns at recent law and urges more public participation in law making processes in Fiji READ MORE

Families of victims of enforced disappearances in Bangladesh. Credit: STR / NurPhoto / NurPhoto via AFP

NEWS FROM THE REGION

BANGLADESH NGOs call on government to take action on enforced disappearances including return of the disappeared, and for an independent mechanism to investigate all cases of enforced disappearance READ MORE

PHILIPPINES Executive Director of the Human Rights Commission condemns increased gender-based violence across different localities in the Philippines READ MORE

MYANMAR Director of Myanmar Centre for Responsible Business Vicky Bowman and activist husband detained by junta after UK announces sanctions against military junta READ MORE

AUSTRALIA Aboriginal traditional owners from Tiwi Islands launch federal court action to stop Santos' gas project off the coast of Darwin claiming lack of free and prior consent READ MORE

CHINA NGOs call on UN, governments, and civil society worldwide to Press China to end enforced disappearances in China READ MORE

INDONESIA/WEST PAPUA Indonesian President orders military to pursue the case of six soldiers arrested for the murder of four West Papuan civilians READ MORE WATCH VIDEO

UN Geneva. Credit: UN

UN NEWS AND CALLS TO CONTRIBUTE

Michelle Bachelet issues report detailing reports of torture, forced sterilization and internment of Uyghurs which may constitute a crime against humanity READ MORE

Call for submission on a study on the violations and abuses of human rights rooted in harmful practices related to accusations of witchcraft and ritual attacks, deadline 18 September READ MORE

Call for submissions on the Secretary-Generals report on combating intolerance against persons based on religion or belief, deadline 5 October READ MORE

Invitation to take part in child-friendly survey to inform the drafting of the UN Guidance Note on Child Rights Mainstreaming, deadline 21 September SEE THE SURVEY

UNGA adopts resolution condemning all forms of sexual and gender-based violence and urging all countries to provide victims and survivors access to justice, reparations and assistance READ MORE

RESOURCES

A practical guide for NHRIs to conduct torture prevention work; Fully revised to include gender dimensions and latest international developments READ MORE

DTP trainer Joshua Cooper hosts discussion of human rights in the Pacific region focusing on economic and social rights WATCH THE VIDEO

Evaluation of the adoption and implementation of National Action Plans since the 1993 Vienna Human Rights Conference READ MORE

The Public Interest Advocacy Centre has released an interactive conflict map of reported human rights violations occurring during the civil war in Sri Lanka between 1983 and 2009 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 #157 September 2022

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

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