DTP - BUILDING THE CAPACITY OF ASIA-PACIFIC HUMAN RIGHTS MOVEMENTS 1990 - 2023

We are continuing with a series of contributions on the 75^th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and the 30^th of the Vienna Declaration. In this issue we link to the Bangkok Commitment on Human Rights Agenda arising from the recent meeting of human rights activists gathered in Bangkok to commemorate the 1993 Bangkok NGO Declaration on Human Rights. READ HERE

In this issue, we include a profile on 2014 alumnus Sudhagaran Stanley, working to address corruption and human rights in Malaysia and news from alumni, partners, the region and the UN.

DTP PROGRAMS

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

BANGKOK AND VIENNA+30 CONFERENCE: A special Myanmar session was held on the final day. Among the speakers was Thinzar Shunlei Yi. VIEW HER PRESENTATION and READ THE BANGKOK COMMITMENT ON HUMAN RIGHTS AGENDA

DTP ALUMNI - NETWORKING SURVEY: DTP is undertaking a survey of its alumni on DTP alumni networking. A big thanks to the 250 plus alumni who have responded so far. The responses are very helpful to our planning and suggest we need to be more active in supporting alumni networking. We will share the results. Please respond if you have not already done so.

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

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 100+ applications. FIND OUT MORE

ASIA DEMOCRACY NETWORK'S ASIA DEMOCRACY ASSEMBLY 2023: 20-22 November, Bangkok. FIND OUT MORE DTP is working with ADN and others for a focus on human rights capacity building, Indigenous peoples rights and the role of parliamentarians and a focus on UDHR 75 and is inviting EOIs from DTP alumni to attend. EMAIL EOI TO [email protected]

Photo of Sudhagaran Stanley. Credit: Sudhagaran Stanley

ALUMNI PROFILE: SUDHAGARAN STANLEY

When Stanley did the DTP annual program in Nepal in 2014, his focus was on migrant and refugee rights. Today he is a prominent figure in the fight against corruption and for human rights and good governance in Malaysia. He currently serves as the Deputy CEO at the Centre to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4 Center). His dedication to fighting corruption, and advocating for institutional reform has made him a prominent voice in Malaysia’s anti-corruption movement.

"The DTP training was a game changer for me. The training is excellent. It opened my eyes to UN conventions, human rights laws, and global policies. It provided me with exposure to international networks and a larger perspective, connecting me with like-minded activists."

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]

Hak Thung Kula People's Network (also known as The People who love Thungkula) protest at Roi Et City Hall in opposition to the establishment of a sugar factory in area marked for rice growing. Credit: Prnon (Bee) Somwong

THAILAND

Pranom (Bee) Somwong highlights the campaign of local farmers and The People who love Thungkula in North East Thailand to prevent the establishment of a sugar mill and bio mass power plant in area marked for organic Jasmine rice growing.

INDONESIA

The Independent Observer publishes profile of Nukila Evanty highlighting her work with the NGO, Indigenous Peoples Initiative, her work to address the impacts of extractive industries on Indigenous peoples and her advocacy at UNPFII in New York.

Bangladesh alumni meeting. Credit: Anisur Rahman Khan

MALAYSIA / BANGLADESH

Anisur Rahman Khan reports on Bangladesh alumni meeting with Malaysian DTP alumnus and advocate on challenges faced by Bangladeshi migrants in Malaysia and building collaboration along migration corridors.

Pervez Siddique. Credit: Pervez Siddique

BANGLADESH

DTP congratulates alumnus and trainer Pervez Siddique and Films 4 Peace Foundation on its election as the official focal point for the Migrants constituency within the Asia Pacific CSO Engagement Mechanism.

Photo of DTP trainer Joshua Cooper with DTP alumnus Cesario Da Silva in front of the Empire State Building. Credit: Cesario Da Silva

TIMOR-LESTE

Cesario Da Silva caught up with DTP trainer Joshua Cooper in New York City while attending the UN High Level Political Forum on the SDGs. Joshua helps advocates to use the Voluntary National Reviews (VNR) to hold governments accountable.

WEST PAPUA / INDONESIA

Wensislaus Fatubun attended the UN’s Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (EMRIP) to highlight human rights in West Papua. His article “Militarization and the State of Exception in Indigenous Sovereignty (A study case on Indonesian military in West Papua)” was cited at EMRIP session by EMRIP’s Pacific representative, Hannah McGlade. The session was chaired by DTP alumnus and trainer Binota Dhamai.

VIEW THE EMRIP SESSION

Melanesian Sprearhead Group meet in Vanuatu. Credit: MSG Secretariat/Facebook

WEST PAPUA / INDONESIA

Alumni share about lobbying on human rights and self-determination at meeting of Melanesian Spearhead Group in Vanuatu. They also share about continuing human rights violations by the Indonesian military in West Papua. The Indonesian government continues to deny UN and independent access to probe killings and allegations of torture. Catholic officials and rights activists call for investigation of killing of three and wounding of seven civilians. READ MORE

In Budhpura, unregulated and unsafe mines are thriving, rights groups say. Credit: Sharique Ahmad/DW

INDIA

Rana Sengupta continues his work to highlight the situation of the estimated 2.5 million men, women and children mine workers in Rajasthan. A large number are at risk of silicosis. Rana and his organisation are pressing for effective remedy and compensation for the widows of miners who have died from silicosis. Sandstone from this mining is exported worldwide. DW recently covered the situation and Rana’s work READ MORE

WATCH THE VIDEO

SINGAPORE

Alumni have shared their concerns about the case of autistic trans woman before the courts in Singapore, who faces being sent back to institute ‘where she was raped’ leading to protests in the UK, US and Singapore. They share about the case and campaign here Justice4Harvey.

Pacific Islands Association of Non-Governmental Organisations (PIANGO) Board Chair (left) Marstella Jack speaking at the ground-breaking Joint Programme (JP). Credit: PIANGO

PARTNER NEWS

PIANGO Chair Marstella Jack launched the Joint Digitalization Programme (ITU, FAO, ILO, UNOPS, UNESCO, UNICEF, UNODC) designed to overcome the digital divide in the Pacific READ MORE

ASIA INDIGENOUS PEOPLES PACT made a number of interventions at EMRIP16 READ MORE

FORUM-ASIA joins other NGOs calling for a rethink of World Bank's 'evolution roadmap' as part of wider reforms to highly unequal global financial architecture READ MORE

FRONT LINE DEFENDERS reports increase repression and harassment of Dalit organisation Jagrit Adivasi Dalit Sangathan and its leaders in Madhya Pradesh READ MORE

BUSINESS AND HUMAN RIGHTS RESOURCE CENTRE Report “Unpacking clean energy: Human rights impacts of Chinese overseas investment in transition minerals” documents abuse of rights of workers and local communities READ MORE

OXFAM AUSTRALIA Understanding the Voice Virtual Gathering with special guest Thomas Mayo and MC Neralda Jacobs, 9 August, 7-8PM AEST REGISTER HERE

Protests after Thailand's parliament fails to elect a prime minister. Credit: ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights

NEWS FROM THE REGION

THAILAND ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights call on Thai parliamentarians to respect the outcome of the recent elections and the right to people’s freedom of assembly READ MORE

CHINA International NGOs call for end to renewed crackdown on human rights lawyers on day of remembrance of the arrest of over 300 lawyers by Chinese authorities READ MORE

MYANMAR Assistance Association for Political Prisoners documents extra-judicial killings of political prisoners READ MORE

PHILIPPINES International Criminal Court rejects Philippine government attempt to block killings probe into former President Rodrigo Duterte’s bloody “war on drugs" READ MORE

INDIA 271 Rohingya migrants detained in Karnataka prison since 2021 protest against their continued detention and ill-treatment READ MORE

SRI LANKA Sri Lankan civil society organisations have rejected the government’s proposal to establish the National Unity and Reconciliation Commission for lack of trust and based on past government inaction READ MORE

Human Rights Council room at UN Geneva. Credit: UN

UN NEWS AND CALLS TO CONTRIBUTE

OHCHR Call for inputs on enhancing capacity-building for local governments to incorporate human rights into all their work, deadline 29 September READ MORE

RESOURCES

Odikhar Three-Month Human Rights Monitoring Report on Bangladesh: April-June 2023 READ MORE

UNDP Business and Human Rights in Asia Programme: Asia in Focus: Corporate Accountability and Climate Change READ MORE

Photo of participants from 2023 30th Annual Program. Credit: DTP

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 Business and Human Rights Program in Fiji. Credit: DTP and Recruitment Practices, Dubai

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU

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 #178 July 2023

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