We are continuing with a series of contributions by human rights experts on the anniversaries of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Vienna Declaration. In this issue we link to an article by Eva Wuchold, the Programme Director Social Rights of the Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung “As important as ever: the Universal Declaration of Human Rights” in which she touches on the tension between the “universal” and “inalienable” nature of the rights of all human beings, while the modern institution of the state is based on the principle of national and territorial sovereignty. READ MORE

This week we also return to Timor-Leste after four years, for DTP's flagship program, the Annual Human Rights and Peoples' Diplomacy training program. We look forward to bringing participants back to Timor and catching up with partners and alumni in the country.

This issue we include a profile on alumna Louchrisha Hussain, and news from alumni, partners, the region and the UN.

31st ANNUAL HUMAN RIGHTS AND PEOPLES' DIPLOMACY TRAINING PROGRAM - TIMOR-LESTE: Begins today in Timor-Leste at the invitation of DTP’s Patron and Founder, the Nobel Laureate, President, José Ramos-Horta who will teach on the program. DTP is grateful to return to Timor with 24 participants from across Asia-Pacific. It is an inspirational place for human rights defenders. With FORUM-ASIA, PIANGO, Migrant Forum in Asia, Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact, and local partners JSMP and UNTL Human Rights Centre. FIND OUT MORE

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 and 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 DTP’s contribution to human rights movements, discuss the current context and priority needs for human rights movements, and building DTP’s alumni networks. READ MORE

BANGKOK AND VIENNA+30 CONFERENCE: 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 Vienna World Conference on Human Rights. READ THE BANGKOK COMMITMENT ON HUMAN RIGHTS AGENDA

DTP ALUMNI - NETWORKING SURVEY: DTP recently surveyed its alumni on networking. A big thanks to the 250 plus alumni who responded. We are working on the report to share and will invest more in supporting alumni networking.

INDIGENOUS PEOPLES HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS EXCHANGE AND TRAINING: AIPP, in partnership with DTP, is organising this program in Nepal, 3-7 September. More information to follow.

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

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] If you are interested to participate in a workshop to reflect and review human rights capacity building in Asia please email EOI to [email protected]

DTP is asking for your help with storytelling materials for our communications materials. We are putting out a call for photography of the work you are doing in country for use in print materials, social media, eNews and on our website.

We are looking for images that :

• Recent activity from 2020 onward
• Permissions to use
• One sentence description of the activity
• Shows people in action
• Include scenes where advocates are carrying signs and placards for the issues you are working on
• Include scenes of environmental advocacy – with people included.

Please email to [email protected]

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]

BANGLADESH NGO documents labour abuses of women workers making FIFA World Cup football merchandise READ MORE

MYANMAR Military orders eviction of villagers in the vicinity of Chinese-owned copper mine in Sagaing region READ MORE

VIETNAM NGOs condemn proposed law requiring social media accounts to be verified with real names and contact information as a tool to silence dissenting voices READ MORE

INDIGENOUS PEOPLES Indigenous Peoples Rights International condemns exploitation of renewable mineral reserves that lacks the informed consent of Indigenous peoples, labelling such climate actions ‘green colonisation’ READ MORE

MALAYSIA IOM finds that the reason for migrant workers becoming ‘undocumented’ is due to labour exploitation and unethical recruitment practices READ MORE

INDONESIA/WEST PAPUA PNG Integral Human Development Trust release report on on the continuing aggravated attack and serious human rights violations of Ngalum Kupel people READ MORE Research from the report was used in a recent Friendly Jordies video. WATCH HERE

AFGHANISTAN South Asians for Human Rights (SAHR) expresseds their extreme concerned about the devastating human rights crisis and the severe humanitarian situation in Afghanistan in its second year under the de facto Taliban authorities READ MORE

Call for inputs from the mandate of the Working Group on discrimination against women and girls to inform the Working Group on lessons learned, key challenges and opportunities, deadline 18 September READ MORE

UN Committee against Torture publishes findings on New Zealand READ MORE

Submissions to the UPR 4^th cycle Working Groups on New Zealand, Vietnam, Vanuatu and Cambodia are due 11 October READ MORE

EVENTS

OECD Online briefing on the updated OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises on Responsible Business Conduct, 7 September REGISTER HERE

2nd Annual Session of the International Independent Expert Mechanism to Advance Racial Justice and Equality in Law Enforcement, 11-15 September READ MORE