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

NEW DTP WEBSITE IS LIVE

DTP’s new website is now live. It highlights the DTP Community of 3000 plus DTP alumni, DTP partners, trainers and supporters, part of the wider community working for human rights and democracy across Asia and the Pacific. Complete with searchable databases, the web site is an invaluable tool for human rights defenders and those seeking news about human rights in the Asia-Pacific region. Please update your list of favourite sites and bookmarks.

In this issue, we have updates on recent DTP programs, news from alumni in the region and profile DTP trainer Chris Sidoti.

DTP PROGRAMS

RIGHTS OF THE CHILD: The final webinar of the year will have a focus on the CRC and young people. It will be held in December. More information to follow.

UN CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD IN AUSTRALIA WORKSHOP: The next CRC workshop will be held in Sydney on 6-7 December. Applications close today. FIND OUT MORE A workshop in Melbourne was held on 3-4 November with 15 participants from government and civil society from around Australia. READ MORE

ASIA DEMOCRACY ASSEMBLY 2022: DTP hosted the side event "Strengthening Networks for Human Rights and Democracy" at the recent Assembly in Bali READ MORE

3RD UN PACIFIC FORUM ON BUSINESS AND HUMAN RIGHTS: This Forum begins in Fiji and online today. READ THE PROGRAM

30TH ANNUAL HUMAN RIGHTS AND PEOPLE'S DIPLOMACY PROGRAM: Rescheduled to Jan/Feb 2023, Bangkok, Thailand – in partnership with Forum-Asia, Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact, Migrant Forum in Asia, Pacific Islands Association of NGOs, Mahidol University, HRDF and SHAPE-SEA.

MYANMAR DIASPORA HUMAN RIGHTS ADVOCACY IN ASEAN: Rescheduled to Feb/March 2023, Bangkok, Thailand. Applications are still open FIND OUT MORE

DIPLOMATIC OUTREACH FOR INDIGENOUS PEOPLES AND HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS: (in partnership with AIPP) The first two sessions of this pilot program have been run with participants from Nepal, Philippines, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Indonesia. FIND OUT MORE

Photo of Chris Sidoti. Credit: Chris Sidoti

TRAINER PROFILE: CHRIS SIDOTI

Chris is one of Australia’s most experienced human rights advocates and practitioners. He has contributed to human rights in Australia and internationally over many decades, through national human rights institutions, NGOs and United Nations human rights mechanisms. He was a member of the UN Human Rights Council’s Fact-Finding Mission on Myanmar from 2017 to 2019 and is currently a commissioner on the UN Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestine Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel.

"For over 30 years, DTP has been a leader in the Asia-Pacific region... Human rights training is a tool to equip leaders, generation after generation, who will stand with the people to explain what legal obligations governments have, and to assist people to claim their rights. DTP is doing a fantastic job.”

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]

Morobe gavana itok ol hevi blong Wafi Golpu istap long han blong PNG gavman na mine developers. Credit: Mineral Policy Institute

PAPUA NEW GUINEA

Warime Guti highlights growing protests over impacts of Wafi Golpu Mine and its tailings on the environment and livelihoods of communities of the pristine Huon Gulf. OECD complaint lodged against two Australian mining companies READ MORE

PAKISTAN

Waheed Ahmad shares news of Lahore High Court dismissal of charges of blasphemy against person with mental illness based on accounts of his dreams

DTP alumna Fitria Sumarni with trainer Joshua Cooper at the UN in Geneva. Credit: Fitria Sumarni

INDONESIA

Fitria Sumarni was in Geneva with others to highlight human rights issues of Ahmadiyya community during Indonesia’s UPR in context of growing intolerance of religious minorities. She connected with DTP’s UPR specialist trainer Joshua Cooper.

Photo of Anisur Rahman Khan. Credit: Anisur Rahman Khan

BANGLADESH

Anisur Rahman Khan shares good news that cross-border advocacy has secured repatriation of migrant domestic worker from Jordan to Bangladesh.

Photo of DTP trainer Professor Surya Deva with alumna Sumita Rabidas. Credit: Sumita Rabidas

BANGLADESH

Sumita Rabidas participated in the recent UNDP Business and Human Rights workshop in Dhaka and met with DTP trainer Professor Surya Deva.

Jonathan Mesulam at the Mining Watch conference in Canada 2019. Credit: Jonathan Mesulam

PAPUA NEW GUINEA

Jonathan Mesulam highlights that threat of Deep Sea Mining continues with new joint venture company takeover of proposed Solwara 1 deep sea mining project and its lobbying of PNG Government

Photo of Boonthan Verawongse. Credit: Boonthan Verawongse

SOUTH EAST ASIA

Boonthan Verawongse shares joint statement of ASEAN Civil Society Conference – Phnom Penh ASEAN Peoples’ Forum 2022 calling for Southeast Asian Peoples’ civic space, democracy, and human rights towards an equitable and just society

Cover of the Broken Promises report. Credit: AHRI

AUSTRALIA

New report, Broken Promises: Two years of corporate reporting under Australia’s Modern Slavery Act shows that companies are still failing to identify obvious modern slavery risks in their supply chains

PIANGO Board Secretary, Sepesa Rasili signs the KIOA Climate Emergency Declarations after it was launched by the KIOA Council on the island.. Credit: PIANGO

PARTNER NEWS

PIANGO and partners demand urgent and decisive action from governments and business at COP27 READ MORE

FORUM-ASIA condemns decision to empower military and police to monitor social media discussion on Nepal’s 20 November election READ MORE

Women praying. Credit: ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights

NEWS FROM THE REGION

SOUTH-EAST ASIA New ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights report on steps needed to guarantee freedom of religion and protection of minorities in the region READ MORE

TUVALU urges countries at the COP27 climate summit to establish a global treaty to phase out the use of fossil fuels READ MORE

PAKISTAN Spotlight Report, Achieving SDGs in Pakistan: A Long Haul READ MORE; and responses and recommendations of district levels officials on the SDGs READ THE ANALYSIS

EGYPT NGOs call for the immediate release of hunger-striking human rights defender Alaa Abd el-Fattah already in prison for eight years - his most recent sentence was for five years for sharing a Facebook post about prison conditions in Egypt READ MORE

CAMBODIA Women lead community campaign against land grabs and evictions by developers on Phnom Penh lake shores READ MORE

SRI LANKA South Asians for Human Rights condemn police brutality used to suppress peaceful public protests READ MORE

INDONESIA CSOs criticise Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank for failing to take steps to stop reprisals and intimidation of Indigenous peasants and fishers negatively affected by the Mandalika Urban and Tourism Infrastructure project READ MORE

Children at the UN holding Peace signs. Credit: UNICEF/UN0146051/Markisz

UN NEWS AND CALLS TO CONTRIBUTE

REMINDER Questionnaire on human rights and climate change for OHCHR report, deadline 9 December READ MORE

The CRC Committee is inviting young people seventeen and under to participate in the 2nd consultation on draft General Comment 26 on children’s rights and climate change READ MORE

EVENTS AND FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

Equitas International Human Rights Training Program, the first for three years, June 2023. International application deadline 7 December READ MORE

The Centre for Victims of Torture is offering ten partnerships for human rights defenders in exile that will provide training and networking activities, deadline 1 December READ MORE

JOB OPPORTUNITIES

ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR) seeks a Myanmar and Crisis Response Advocacy and Campaigns Officer, READ MORE and a Project Manager and Membership Officer READ MORE Deadline for both 30 December.

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 #162 November 2022

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