DTP E-Newsletter 183
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DIPLOMACY TRAINING PROGRAM

Building the capacity of Asia-Pacific
Human Rights Movements since 1990

We are continuing with a series of contributions on the anniversaries of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Vienna Declaration. In this issue we provide the links to two short videos that can be used in campaigns to renew commitments to, and to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the UDHR: Human Rights 75 - Count down to December 10 VIEW HERE and 75th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights VIEW HERE

This issue we include a profile on alumna Mary Boni and news from alumni, the region and the UN.

 

DTP Programs

CHILD RIGHTS AND THE NEW GENERAL COMMENT WEBINAR SERIES: The Committee on the Rights of the Child released a new General Comment on children’s rights and the environment with a special focus on climate change. The first webinar - Explaining the new General Comment 26 - with Āniva Clarke and Noam Peleg was held on 21 September. WATCH HERE

VANUATU AND HUMAN RIGHTS - UNIVERSAL PERIODIC REVIEW: A first webinar in a new series for Vanuatu civil society to prepare for the upcoming Universal Periodic Review in 2024 was held on 26 September. A great discussion was had on the UPR process and current human rights issues in Vanuatu. The next session will focus on written submissions from CSOs for the report on Vanuatu's human rights record, Friday 6 October 1pm VUT. REGISTER HERE

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 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]

2023 REGIONAL INDIGENOUS PEOPLES HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDER EXCHANGE PROGRAM: 48 participants from nine countries gathered in Nepal from 3-7 September 2023. Topics discussed included the shared challenges around issues of land grabbing, and the denial of recognition of identity, cultures, and traditional knowledge. READ MORE

31st ANNUAL HUMAN RIGHTS AND PEOPLES' DIPLOMACY TRAINING PROGRAM: This program ran from 21 August-1 September in Timor-Leste. The 24 participants, from 10 countries, had sessions on the UN system and mechanisms, the rights of women, LGBTQI+, children and disability, video advocacy and had the chance to hear from activists working on the ground both in the region and in Timor-Leste. READ 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

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

 

Alumni Profile

Mary Boni

Mary was recently appointed as the Executive Director of Project Sepik, an NGO in Papua New Guinea (PNG). She is an experienced advocate and human rights defender. Apart from her role in Project Sepik, Mary’s commitment to the sustainable management of PNG’s natural resources is evident in her participation in technical working groups focused on issues like environmental law, timber legality standards, and forest stewardship.

"DTP’s training was a transformative experience that opened my eyes to the power of regional and global mechanisms in support of local advocacy efforts. It equipped me with the knowledge and skills to navigate complex international systems for the betterment of my community."

READ MORE
Photo of Mary Boni. Credit: Mary Boni
 

DTP Alumni in Action

For information about our alumni, click here. If you want to get in contact with any of DTP's alumni, please contact the office at [email protected].

Milk Tea Alliance information flyer. Credit: Manushya

ASIA

Ni Putu Candra Dewi marks International Day of Democracy sharing the work of the Milk Tea Alliance, a youth organisation campaigning for democracy, the rule of law, and human rights in the Asia region.

READ MORE
Cover of the Y20 India Summit Communique. Credit: Y20

GLOBAL

Elizabeth Gamarra shares communique from Youth 20 India at the meeting of G20 governments in Varanasi, calling for the voices of youth and Indigenous peoples to be heard, and for increased policy and financial action to address climate change.

READ THE COMMUNIQUE

INDONESIA / WEST PAPUA

West Papua alumnus shares report that documents torture by military, forced displacement of up to 100,000 civilians, and refusal of access demanded by the UN.

READ MORE
"'The kids had all been tortured’: Indonesian military accused of targeting children in West Papua" . . . The Guardian's investigative report on Indonesian atrocities in West Papua on 25 September 2023. Image: The Guardian/Screenshot/ APR
Tymu Irawan speaking at a prevention of human trafficking event in Indonesia. Credit: Tymu Irawan

INDONESIA

Tymu Irawan spoke at the Lampung Catholic Diocese and Indonesia Thalita Kum panel on the prevention of human trafficking of migrant workers and called for future cooperation among NGOs in eradicating human trafficking.

ACD training of law enforcement officials on the sexual exploitation of children. Credit: Sharmin Subrina

BANGLADESH

Sharmin Subrina shares the capacity building project of the Association for Community Development for domestic female workers to understand and claim their rights READ MORE and ACD training of law enforcement officials on the sexual exploitation of children (see photo).

Sri Lanka protest at the Bangladesh High Commission demanding the immediate release of HRDs Adilur Rahman and Nasiruddin Elan. Credit: Asia Democracy Network

BANGLADESH / SRI LANKA

DTP trainer Ruki Fernando shares statement from civil society calling for the Bangladeshi government to take immediate steps to restore and protect human rights and democracy. He joins DTP alumni and civil society actors from Sri Lanka protesting at the Bangladeshi High Commission in Colombo.

READ MORE
Speakers Photo of Bella Gahlos. Credit: Photo suppliedthe Malaysian Bar Association webinar on Poltiical funding, Regulation and Corruption. Credit: Malaysian Bar/Facebook

TIMOR-LESTE

DTP volunteer Niall Earle interviewed Bella Galhos while in Timor for the 31st Annual Human Rights and Peoples' Diplomacy program, sharing her story as a Timorese freedom fighter and LGBTQI+ activist.

READ MORE
Victor Yeimo addresses a huge crowd of his supporters on September 23. Photo supplied/Green Left

INDONESIA / WEST PAPUA

Alumni share the news of activist Victor Yeimo's release from Indonesian prison following his conviction of treason for his involvement in a demonstration against a racist incident at the Kamasan III Papua student dormitory in Surabaya, East Java.

READ MORE
Jonila Castro and Jhed Tamano press conference following their release. Credit: APNED

PHILIPPINES

Myrasol dela Cruz shares the news of the release of environmental activists Jonila Castro and Jhed Tamano following their allegedly abducted by the Philippine military at the beginning of September.

READ MORE
 

Partner News

PIANGO Executive Director Emeline Siale Ilolahia at the Council of International Development Conference in NZ. Credit: PIANGO

PIANGO Speaking at the Council for International Development in NZ, Executive Director Emeline Siale Ilolahia says many NGOs in the Pacific are refusing funds from countries that don't have a strong record on civil rights. READ MORE

FORUM-ASIA and Asia Democracy Network calls for applications to the 2023 Youth Democratic Solidarity and Leadership Training 14-20 November in Bangkok READ MORE deadline for applications 15 October APPLY HERE

 

News from the Region

Arnon Nampa talks to reporters outside court in Bangkok before hearing the verdict in his trial on lese-majesty charges. Credit: Sakchai Lalit/AP

THAILAND Human rights lawyer Arnon Nampa jailed for 4 years after calling for reform of country’s strict lèse-majesté law READ MORE

VIETNAM OHCHR expresses concern at the arrest of Ngo Thi To Nhien, an environmental activist and Executive Director of the Vietnam Initiative for Energy Transition READ MORE

MYANMAR OHCHR report documents abuses of the civilian population with particular focus on military airstrikes, ground operations, and arson, violence by anti-military armed groups, and human rights concerns of the Rohingya community READ THE REPORT

PACIFIC With the Udaune Declaration on Climate Change Pacific leaders have placed a moratorium on deep-sea mining within its member countries’ territorial waters bringing to a halt the Solwara 1 mining project READ MORE

GLOBAL Norwegian Students' and Academics' International Assistance Fund (SAIH) calls for student activists and young people to take part in a survey for a report on the repression of student activism globally READ MORE

PAPUA NEW GUINEA/BOUGAINVILLE The Australian National Contact Point for Responsible Business Conduct has released an updated initial assessment on complaint 21: Human Rights Law Centre on behalf of affected individuals and Rio Tinto. READ THE ASSESSMENT

VIETNAM HRW calls for dropping of charges and unconditional release of environmental activist Hoang Thi Minh Hong READ MORE

 

UN News and Calls to Contribute

Roots and ties for peace sculpture at the UN HQ NYC. Credit: UN

Committee against Torture recently adopted new “Guidelines on third-party submissions under article 22 of the Convention” VIEW THE GUIDELINES

Committee on Enforced Disappearances have launched their first General Comment on Enforced Disappearances in the Context of Migration READ MORE

New report reveals over 220 people and 25 organisations worldwide faced reprisals for cooperating with UN on human rights in the past year READ MORE

 

Resources

ISHR Guide for Third-Party Interventions before UN Human Rights Treaty Bodies VIEW THE GUIDE

 

Events

Launch of the WHO and OHCHR new publication, "Mental health, human rights and legislation: guidance and practice". An interactive dialogue, among persons with lived experience, UN officials, high-level government and civil society representatives, 9 October, 12:30pm CET. READ MORE

 

 

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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.

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Diplomacy Training Program
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DTP acknowledges the traditional custodians of the land on which we work, the Bedegal people of the Eora Nation. We recognise their lands were never ceded, and we acknowledge their struggles for recognition and rights and pay our respects to the Elders – past, present – and the youth who are working towards a brighter tomorrow. This continent always was and always will be Aboriginal land.

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