DTP E-Newsletter 185

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 (75^th) and the Vienna Declaration (30^th). In this issue we link to a statement from 72 UN member governments on the right to education, recalling the words in the Vienna Declaration “education on human rights and the dissemination of proper information, both theoretical and practical, play an important role in the promotion and respect of human rights with regard to all individuals without distinction of any kind.” READ THE STATEMENT

This issue we profile Sri Lankan alumnus Ravi Tissera, President of IMCS, Pax Romana, and share news from alumni, the region and the UN.

DTP Programs

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. DRAFT REPORT AVAILABLE HERE

DTP ALUMNI - NETWORKING SURVEY: DTP surveyed its alumni from 1990–2023 on networking. A big thanks to the 250 plus alumni who responded. READ THE REPORT

ASIA DEMOCRACY NETWORK'S ASIA DEMOCRACY ASSEMBLY 2023: 20-22 November, Bangkok. REGISTER HERE

DTP CHILD RIGHTS AND THE NEW GENERAL COMMENT 26 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 The next webinar with the Chair of the Committee on the Rights of the Child will be on 28 November. More information to follow.

VANUATU AND HUMAN RIGHTS - UNIVERSAL PERIODIC REVIEW (UPR): DTP facilitated two webinars for Vanuatu civil society engaging with Vanuatu’s UPR in 2024. CSO submissions have now been made.

AIPP-DTP 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

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

Alumni Profile

Ravi Tissera

Ravi is the International President of the International Movement of Catholic Students (IMCS/MIEC) Pax Romana. In this role, he supports and nurtures young people to be involved in making change, and offering solidarity.

"Reflecting back now, I can confidently say that participating in the DTP training program in 2015 saved me 20 years of learning about how effectively one could use advocacy and campaign toolkits. The DTP presents key information and advocacy toolkits in their training program so eloquently that I feel lucky to have participated."

Photo of Ravi Tissera. Credit: Ravi Tissera

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].

Poster for the Manushya Foundation on-line discussion "Focus on the New Prime Minister Thavisin, elected by the Former military-backed Government: Is Thai Democracy in Regress or Progress?" Credit: Manushya Foundation

MALAYSIA

DTP joins in congratulating Adrian Pereira on his appointment as Adjunct Professor in the School of Liberal Arts & Sciences at Taylor's University.

Screenshot of Jonathan Mesulam speaking at a campaign against deep sea mining in a NBC News report. Credit: NBC News

INDONESIA

Samuel Jose has been busy as the Indonesia delegate at ASEAN at the Japan Special Youth Forum on Promoting Rule of Law, and chairing the 1st Archipelagic and Island States Youth Conference.

MALAYSIA/ASEAN

Sumitha Shaanthinni Kishna spoke on behalf of CSOs on challenges in accessing legal pathways for migration at the 16^th ASEAN Forum of Migrant Labour attended by DTP alumni, and shares the recommendations of the forum. Migrant workers, and especially undocumented migrant workers have become even more vulnerable after the pandemic.

Photos from the 16th ASEAN Forum of Migrant Labour. Credit: Sumitha Shaanthinni Kishna

Screenshot of Zone 3 participant working on sectorial analysis of gender representation. Credit: WBCA

PAPUA NEW GUINEA

Isidor Kaupun shares videos of his training programs on gender equity and combatting violence with the Wide Bay Conservation Association.

WATCH HERE

McCain Fellowship for Freedom homepage. Credit: IRI

GLOBAL

Samantha Chong shares invitation to apply to the International Republican Institute McCain Fellowship for Freedom fellowships for freedom study in the US, deadline 27 November.

Voices from Asia on the Crisis in Palestine flyer. Credit: HRDF

THAILAND

Boonthan Verawongse will be introducing an on-line forum ‘Voices from Asia on the Crisis in Palestine’ at 3:30PM Palestinian time on 2 November Zoom link ID 805 646 4379

Partner News

Farmer Raymond Manalo weeps in anger after Judge Francisco Felizmenio of the Malolos Regional Trial Court dismissed on October 6, 2023 the kidnapping and illegal detention charges that he and brother Reynaldo filed against former general Jovito Palparan and five others. Credit: Joann Manabat/Rappler

PIANGO Executive Director Siale Ilolahia addressed the Australian Council for International Development conference sharing PIANGO’s vision for a strong, resilient, and effective Pacific civil society and reflecting on PIANGO’s development of a Pacific CSO Accountability Framework.

FORUM-ASIA joins eleven international NGOs in condemning use of counterterrorism law, financial regulations, and other laws to silence journalists, human rights defenders, activists, and critics of the government READ MORE

PIANGO together with the Humanitarian Advisory Group and FAO launch new report, On the Front Foot: Envisioning a Model for Anticipatory Action in the Pacific READ MORE

DTP trainer Joshua Cooper issues invitation to appear on video highlighting aspects of the UDHR for his program The Universal Declaration of Human Rights: Dignity, Freedom & Justice For All; Stand Up in Solidarity; contact Joshua if you’re interested at [email protected] with “UDHR 75th TV Show” in the subject line.

News from the Region

Supporters of the "Yes" vote in the 2023 Australian referendum gather together with placards encouraging people to vote yes and "open your heart to our Voice". Credit: UNOHCHR

AUSTRALIA UN High Commissioner for Human Rights expresses regret about the rejection by 60% of Australian voters in the recent referendum on constitutional recognition of Australia’s Indigenous Peoples and establishment of a Voice consultative body READ MORE

CAMBODIA Environmental and land activists acquitted and released from prison following resumption of US development assistance READ MORE

INDIA An amendment to India's forest conservation law changed the definition of ‘forest’ to allow mining and development without need for consent from local communities. Over 150 Indigenous traditional owners have been arrested READ MORE

THAILAND A new investigation by Fortify Rights exposes how Myanmar refugees seeking healthcare face arrest and extortion by Thai authorities in the border town of Mae Sot READ MORE

UN News and Calls to Contribute

UN flag flying in front of a blue sky with hite clouds. Credit: Flickr/ sanjitbakshi

UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar tables report documenting the detention and torture of more than 20,000 political prisoners and the killing of over 4,000 by the military junta READ THE REPORT

UN Report on the human rights of migrants presented to the Human Rights Council includes conclusions and recommendations on respecting, protecting and fulfilling the human rights of migrants READ MORE

Call for contribution to the research and report that OHCHR is preparing in accordance with Human Rights Council resolution 53/6 of 7 July 2023 entitled “Human rights and climate change”, deadline 31 January 2024 READ MORE

Call for input to the report of the Special Rapporteur on human rights defenders to the Human Rights Council on child and youth human rights defenders, deadline 15 November READ MORE

Call for applications for the following mandate holders: Special Rapporteur on the issue of human rights obligations relating to the enjoyment of a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment and Working Group on the rights of peasants and other people working in rural areas, member from Asia-Pacific States, deadline 30 November. READ MORE

Events

Online workshop two half-day sessions to train stakeholders on Mainstreaming the Right to Development in Voluntary National Review Reporting for Realizing the SDGs deadline for registration 15 November READ MORE

Resources

Oxfam report demonstrates that free, prior, and informed consent of Indigenous peoples is not sufficiently applied by companies in the batteries mining sector: "Recharging Community Consent: Mining companies, battery minerals, and the battle to break from the past" 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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https://dtp.org.au/

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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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