We are continuing with a series of contributions on the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and the 30th of the Vienna Declaration. In this issue we include a link to an opinion piece by Professor Vitit Muntarbhorn, DTP International Advisory Council member, based on his address to the recent Bangkok+30 conference, in which he assesses human rights plus and minuses since 1993 and identifies challenges that need to be addressed. READ MORE

In this issue, we include a profile on alumna Elizabeth Gamarra, report on the recent DTP Asian alumni workshop and the Bangkok and Vienna+30 conference, and news from alumni, partners, the region and the UN. The human rights crisis in Myanmar was a special focus of the DTP alumni workshop and Bangkok+30 with an impassioned appeal for solidarity from Thinzar Shunlei Yi. See latest UN Report here. DTP Founder and President of Timor-Leste, Jose Ramos Horta meets NUG Foreign Minister in Timor-Leste.

UDHR @ 75: DTP ASIAN ALUMNI WORKSHOP/TRAINING - 26-27 JUNE 2023: DTP’s first workshop with DTP alumni in Asia took place in Bangkok from 26-27 June, with 28 alumni from 10 countries joined by DTP trainers Arul Prakkash and Ruki Fernando, and William Gois and Guangchun Gangmei from DTP partners, Migrant Forum in Asia (MFA) and Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact (AIPP). FORUM-ASIA was also well represented by its Chair (Jerald Joseph) and Executive Director (Aileen Balcaso), both DTP alumni. READ MORE

UDHR @ 75: DTP PACIFIC ALUMNI WORKSHOP/TRAINING - 8-9 JUNE 2023: DTP alumni from Fiji, Papua New Guinea/Bougainville, Solomon Islands and Tonga gathered in Nadi, Fiji to reflect on the value of DTP’s contribution to their work for human rights, discussed the current context and priority needs for human rights advocacy training, and building DTP’s alumni networks. READ MORE

DTP ALUMNI - NETWORKING SURVEY: DTP is undertaking a survey of its alumni on DTP alumni networking. We have received over 150 responses so far, and thank you to all those that responded. The responses are very interesting and helpful to our planning and we will share the results. We will send the survey out again to those who have not responded yet.

3RD ASIA-PACIFIC ENVIRONMENTAL HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS FORUM will take place in person from Wednesday, 20 September to Thursday, 21 September 2023 with an additional workshop on Procedural Environmental Rights on Friday, 22 September 2023. The theme of this year’s Forum is Strengthening protection through data collection. CLICK HERE TO EXPRESS INTEREST

MYANMAR DIASPORA HUMAN RIGHTS ADVOCACY IN ASEAN: The focus was on ASEAN’s responsibility to respond to the growing human rights crisis in Myanmar, and the role of ASEAN civil society advocacy in solidarity with the democracy movement in Myanmar. With IHRP, Mahidol, FORUM-ASIA, Migrant Forum in Asia, AltASEAN, HRDF and WITNESS. READ THE REPORT

31st ANNUAL HUMAN RIGHTS AND PEOPLES' DIPLOMACY TRAINING PROGRAM - TIMOR-LESTE: 21 August - 1 September. With FORUM-ASIA, PIANGO, Migrant Forum in Asia, Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact, and local partners JSMP and UNTL Human Rights Centre. DTP is reviewing the first round of 70+ applications. FIND OUT MORE

Human rights advocates from across Asia, including DTP alumni and trainers, gathered in Bangkok on 28-30 June to mark the 30th anniversary of the Bangkok NGO Declaration and the subsequent World Conference on Human Rights in Vienna. With the 75th anniversary of the adoption of the UDHR in the background, this inter-generational gathering highlighted the role of civil society advocacy in defending and progressing universal values of human dignity.

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]

FORUM-ASIA welcomes the acquittal of five Thai pro-democracy human rights defenders charged for blocking traffic during pro-democracy demonstrations in 2020 READ MORE

MIGRANT FORUM IN ASIA is promoting the World Social Forum scheduled for February 2024 in Nepal READ MORE

MYANMAR Karen communities on the Thai-Myanmar border conduct their own research to counteract government impact statements of proposed dams READ MORE

MALAYSIA NGOs concerned at proposed changes to citizenship laws which will result in persons without proper documentation becoming stateless READ MORE

HONG KONG/CHINA The Asia Democracy Network joined many in condemning the bounties offered with the arrest warrants for eight human rights activists living abroad READ MORE

BANGLADESH Garment workers threaten nationwide strike and ITUC condemns brutal murder of trade union leader Shahidul Islam READ MORE

WORLD BANK CSOs calls for a World Bank Group roadmap that prioritises people, participation and the planet including development and funding of a human rights policy READ MORE

Myanmar atrocities and impunity must end: UN rights chief Volker Türk tells the Human Rights Council READ MORE

UN Network on Migration has extended the deadline for its call for Practices implementing the GCM at the intersection of migration and the SDGs to 31 July READ MORE

Discussion Panel: The Promise of Women’s Equal Representation and Participation in International Decision-Making, Hybrid event July 12 REGISTER HERE

UNDP Call for Submission of Abstracts of scholarly articles that critically analyse BHR issues in Asia Pacific for the Special Asia Edition of the Business and Human Rights Journal, deadline 21 July READ MORE