Nicholas is the Vice President of Australian Lawyers for Human Rights and a partner at Dowson Turco Lawyers. He was awarded the prestigious Law Society of NSW President’s Medal for 2022, for playing an instrumental role in the establishment of a Special Commission of Inquiry into gay and transgender hate crimes.

"DTP’s training contributes to advancing human rights advocacy because, without it, many individuals or groups seeking to bring about human rights will not have the knowledge or skills to articulate their ideas, build frameworks for change, or identify human rights laws and systems that can be of use. The DTP teaches these principles, but also helps participants to manage complex negotiations with those in power."

Joseph is a former journalist who is an environmental justice and human rights advocate. He participated in a DTP course in the early 1990s. Now he works with several women’s movements in Baimuru, a remote village in the Gulf Province of Papua New Guinea (PNG) concerned about the impacts of major LNG developments. He assists local women’s rights advocates to address the community’s social and environmental issues.

"I joined DTP training with the belief that facilitating dialogues could solve the conflicts of the decolonization process and the struggle for self-determination. In the DTP training, I met many people struggling with human rights issues in their countries. Some far worse than what I was experiencing in my country. I thought then that dialogue could be a venue to solve conflicts...”

Sumitha Shaanthinni Kishna shares news of the Philippines blacklisting Kuwait as a destination for women migrant workers following murder of domestic worker resulting in the exodus from Kuwait of Filipina domestic workers 

Adrian Pereira shares news of PM Anwar Ibrahim’s directive to home ministry to cease using third party agents to recruit migrant workers.

Ganyaphak Sutphakde (Nan) sends video of the “who made my flower campaign” calling for the protection of the labour rights of migrant workers in northern Thailand VIEW THE VIDEO and article “Labour rights watchdog urge Thai government to amend laws that violate migrant worker’s rights at PEA”.

Naweed Harooni shares account of Indonesian migrant workers starved during long-term detention at Kimanis Detention Centre in Sabah.

Alumnus shares news of kidnapping of New Zealand pilot by West Papua National Liberation Army who demand that Australia and New Zealand sever military ties with Indonesia.

Tirtha Prasad Saikia shares media release on state level CSO consultation on climate change in Assam.

Ripon Ronjon Das was active at the Policy Dialogue on Indigenous Issues hosted by Indigenous Peoples Development Services.

Tharindu Jayawardhana’s organisation held a press conference providing information on the April 2019 Easter Sunday bombing of churches and hotels in Colombo.

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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. If you have news, opinion pieces, resources or examples of best practice to share, or have questions on human rights, please send them to us at [email protected]. Please stay safe.

Issue #167 February 2023

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