This issue of the DTP eNews has information on DTP’s programs and activities, news of DTP alumni and partners. DTP’s 30th Annual Human Rights and Peoples' Diplomacy Training Program was closed in Bangkok by DTP Advisory Committee Member, Somchai Homlaor. There was a focus on the 75th Anniversary of the UDHR and the 30th Anniversary of the Bangkok NGO Declaration, closing civil society space in the region, and on the human rights crisis and conflict in Myanmar. There is a profile of DTP trainer, Professor Ryszard Cholewinksi and migrant rights advocate, Bijaya Shrestra.

30TH ANNUAL HUMAN RIGHTS AND PEOPLE'S DIPLOMACY PROGRAM: Program with 29 participants from 13 countries included field visits to UNESCAP, reception with Australian Ambassador and solidarity event for human rights in Myanmar. It opened in Bangkok, Thailand with keynote by DTP Advisory Council Member Professor Vitit Muntabhorn and closed with Somchai Homlaor. Held in partnership with Forum-Asia, Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact, Migrant Forum in Asia, Pacific Islands Association of NGOs, Mahidol University, HRDF and SHAPE-SEA.

RIGHTS OF THE CHILD WEBINAR: “The Convention on the Rights of the Child: Hearing and Listening to the Voice of Children and Young People” recording is available WATCH HERE

2 YEARS OF ATROCITY UNDER MILITARY JUNTA IN MYANMAR: A Failure of ASEAN and International Community?: DTP co-hosts leading advocates speak out and call for action at a solidarity event for the people of Myanmar WATCH HERE

INDIGENOUS PEOPLES RIGHTS IN AUSTRALIA: Strategy Roundtable with Indigenous Law Centre, Nura Gili and Oxfam Australia with DTP & Oxfam alumni and others – February 9th, Sydney.

HUMAN RIGHTS ADVOCACY CAPACITY BUILDING FOR MIGRANT AND REFUGEE DIASPORA COMMUNITY LEADERS IN NSW/AUSTRALIA: Feb 11th - 12th in partnership with STARTTS for 30 migrant and refugee community leaders.

AUSTRALIAN RIGHTS OF THE CHILD WORKSHOPS: Sydney 28 February-1 March. Applications close 14 February FIND OUT MORE Perth 30-31 March. Applications close 16 March FIND OUT MORE

ENVIRONMENTAL HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS WORKSHOP - FIJI: Rescheduled 28-30 March. Over 70 applications received for 3 day workshop for Pacific EHRDs to strengthen capacity to hold governments and businesses accountable for human rights violations - in partnership with OHCHR Regional Office, the Pacific Human Rights Defenders Network, and the Hawai'i Institute for Human Rights. ENVIRONMENTAL HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS TOOLKIT AVAILABLE HERE

MYANMAR DIASPORA HUMAN RIGHTS ADVOCACY IN ASEAN: This program will bring members of the Myanmar diaspora community together with others to build capacity to engage more effectively with international human rights mechanisms, ASEAN, the media, and others to address the growing human rights crisis in Myanmar. Rescheduled to 27-31 March 2023, Bangkok, Thailand. Applications close 14 February FIND OUT MORE

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]

At DTP’s 30th Annual Training Program, William Gois (MFA), Debbie Stothard (AltASEAN) and Boonthan Verawongse (HRDF) joined Ed Legaspi to reflect on the impact of the 1993 Bangkok NGO Declaration on Human Rights.

ASIA INDIGENOUS PEOPLES PACT and DTP made a submission to the Australian Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade inquiry into matters related to supporting democracy in the Asia/Pacific region READ SUBMISSION HERE

MIGRANT FORUM IN ASIA is calling for contributions that can be brought to the CP TAWG meeting on March, particularly on challenges and recommendations on pre-deployment orientation and empowerment, deadline 20 February. Email [email protected] for contributions

FORUM-ASIA adopted their 2023-2027 Strategic Plan, built upon its foundational pillars that human rights are not Western or Asian but universal. READ MORE

VIETNAM UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detentions calls on the Vietnamese government to immediately release environmental activist Nguyen Ngoc Anh READ MORE

MYANMAR Australia imposes sanctions on leaders of Myanmar's military junta READ MORE

BANGLADESH Raghunath Kha, human rights defender and journalist, detained on his return from investigating a land rights issue in the Khalishakhali area of Satkhira district TAKE ACTION

PHILIPPINES HRW calls on President Marcos Jr to issue clear directives to all government officials to stop designating Indigenous leaders and environmental activists as fighters or supporters of the communist insurgency (red tagging), thus putting their lives at risk READ MORE

CAMBODIA Proposed law removes reference to the public participation of Indigenous and ethnic minority communities in articles related to the conservation of protected areas READ MORE

PHILIPPINES Court acquits 10 leading human rights and environmental defenders accused of perjury READ MORE

MYANMAR UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar: “SAC military coup was illegal and its claim as Myanmar’s government is illegitimate and a new, coordinated international response to the crisis is imperative” READ MORE

THAILAND The health of detained students Tantawan Tuatulanon and Orawan Phupong on hunger strike in protest against lese-majesty laws is deteriorating rapidly READ MORE

Call for inputs by children on the rights of the child and inclusive social protection, deadline 27 February READ MORE

Call for input for report on how to expand and diversify regularization mechanisms and programs to enhance the protection of the human rights of migrants, deadline 15 February READ MORE