DTP E-Newsletter 200
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DIPLOMACY TRAINING PROGRAM

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

Welcome to the 200th edition of DTP's eNews! Continuing DTP’s focus on the connection between human rights and global warming, in this issue we provide a link to a commentary by the Center for International Environmental Law on the work of seven UN Treaty Bodies based on their activities during 2020 and 2021. The report, States’ Human Rights Obligations in the Context of Climate Change: Guidance Provided by the UN Human Rights Treaty Bodies, addresses the obligations of states to address climate change for each of the rights elaborated in the International Bill of Rights and the Conventions READ THE COMMENTARY

In this issue we profile alumnus and founder of the Malaysian Foreign Spouses Network, Naweed Harooni, provide information about DTP's programs, partners and the region, provide information about DTP's programs, and calls from the UN for your engagement.

 

DTP Programs

PACIFIC, CLIMATE CHANGE AND HUMAN RIGHTS NETWORK BUILDING: 25-27 June, Suva. In partnership with PIANGO, CCF and OHCHR. 17 Pacific CSOs and experts participated in a consultation workshop to develop a new capacity building strategy on human rights, climate change and business in the Pacific. READ WELCOME REMARKS FROM OHCHR and READ MORE

EMPOWERING DIASPORA COMMUNITIES TO ADDRESS TORTURE: 26 June, Sydney. With the Service for the Treatment and Rehabilitation of Torture and Trauma Survivors (STARTTS). 22 human rights defenders from countries in Africa, the Middle East and Asia. READ THE REPORT

3RD ASEAN HUMAN RIGHTS ACADEMY: 4-6 June, Jakarta in partnership with FORUM-ASIA. 20 young participants from 8 ASEAN countries and Timor-Leste. Reports and recommendations were produced by participants focusing on Human Rights, Indigenous Peoples, Myanmar, and Digital Rights. They presented them to the Australian Mission to ASEAN at a special interactive session. READ MORE

2024 HUMAN RIGHTS ADVOCACY AND DIASPORA PROGRAM: 18-19 May, Sydney. With the Service for the Treatment and Rehabilitation of Torture and Trauma Survivors (STARTTS). Over 30 refugee and migrant community leaders from 14 countries. Brief report AVAILABLE HERE and WATCH A SHORT VIDEO ABOUT THE TRAINING AND DTP'S DIASPORA PROGRAM HERE 
15 June, Sydney. With Fairfield Multicultural Interagency Community Capacity Building working group. Over 25 refugee and migrant community leaders attended. READ MORE

32nd ANNUAL HUMAN RIGHTS AND PEOPLES' DIPLOMACY TRAINING PROGRAM: Timor-Leste 12-23 August 2024 – at the invitation of President José Ramos-Horta and in partnership with Global Campus of Human Rights, Justice System Monitoring Project and Human Rights Centre, UNTL – AIPP, FORUM-ASIA, PIANGO and MFA. Other trainers include UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Development, Professor Surya Deva. Over 260 applications have been received and are currently being processed. READ MORE

INDIGENOUS PEOPLES RIGHTS, CLIMATE CHANGE, HUMAN RIGHTS AND BUSINESS: 6-11 May - a capacity building program for Indigenous Peoples Advocates in Sabah, Malaysia. With Jaringan Orang Asal SeMalaysia (JOAS) and Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact. 20 Orang Asli participants from Sabah, Sarawak and Peninsular Malaysia. READ THE PROGRAM REPORT HERE

INDIGENOUS PEOPLES RIGHTS - UNDRIP WEBINAR SERIES: DTP, in partnership with Oxfam Australia, launched a new webinar series on the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. The first webinar focussed on the right to self-determination, featuring Les Malezar and Monica Morgan. WATCH HERE More information to follow on the next webinar.

BUILDING RESILIENCE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS AND DEMOCRACY MOVEMENTS - SHARING LESSONS AND BUILDING COLLABORATIONS IN CAPACITY BUILDING: DTP and partners are hosting a Workshop to reflect and share the lessons from capacity building on advocacy for human rights. The workshop aims to develop collaboration on human rights and democracy capacity building in response to the closing civil society spaces and rise in authoritarianism. Dates to be advised.

DTP NETWORKING AND WEBINARS: DTP is planning a series of webinars to continue knowledge building with DTP alumni. Planning is underway for webinars on Deep Sea Mining, and on Human Rights, Digital Rights and Artificial Intelligence. To express interest and/or suggest webinar topics, please contact [email protected]

 
DTP Chair Michael do Rozario presenting at Voices Against Torture panel. Credit: DTP

International Day in Support of Victims of Torture: Voices Against Torture

DTP in partnership with STARTTS held a panel discussion at NSW Parliament House “Voices Against Torture: A Call for Global Justice and Human Rights” to mark International Day in Support of Victims of Torture. Among the speakers were DTP Chair Michael do Rozario and staff member Mubashar Hasan, himself a torture survivor, with William Maley, Emeritus Professor at the Australian National University giving the keynote address.

READ MORE
 

DTP Visit by Pradip Pariyar, #DalitLivesMatter

Pradip Pariyar, founder of the Dalit Lives Matter Global Alliance (DLMGA) and currently lead of the #DalitLivesMatter movement visited DTP as part of his first visit to Australia. Pradip shared the work of the DLMGA and discussed opportunities for support and awareness raising in Australia.

DTP team, Patrick Earle, Clare Sidoti and Cherie Chau with Pradip Pariyar and participants at the brown bag lunch. Credit: DTP
 
DTP's Children's Rights logo. Credit: DTP

Child Rights Webinar Series

24 webinars on the Convention on the Rights of the Child are available here. Each webinar features leading child’s rights experts, practitioners and young people exploring the challenges in realising children’s rights in practices.

READ MORE
 

Alumni Profile

Photo of Naweed Harooni. Credit: Naweed Harooni

Naweed Harooni

Naweed Harooni is a Pakistani born human rights defender now living in Malaysia, with his Malaysian spouse. After experiencing and witnessing hurdles and discrimination towards foreign spouses, he founded Malaysian Foreign Spouses Network (MFSN) to raise greater awareness of this discrimination and to fight for the rights of foreign spouses in Malaysia.
 
"[DTP participants] developed a strong solidarity network amongst ourselves. We consult and support one another on issues related to migrant workers, refugees, marriage migrants, non-citizens and undocumented workers etc. This relationship gives solidarity and camaraderie its true meaning and value."
READ MORE
 

DTP Alumni Dinner in Suva

DTP was pleased to meet up with alumni while in Suva for the Climate Change, Human Rights and Business consultation. The 9 alumni had attended Annual Programs as well as F2F and online BHR programs. They were joined by DTP trainers Surya Deva and Joshua Cooper.

DTP alumni with Patrick Earle, Clare Sidoti, Surya Deva and Joshua Cooper sitting around dinner table in Suva. Credit: Surya Deva
 

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].

Photo of Wensislaus Fatubun presenting at the Developing Diversity Journalism in Southeast Asia conference. Credit: Wensislaus Fatubun

INDONESIA / WEST PAPUA

Wensislaus Fatubun spoke about decolonising media and communication through the Papuan film project in West Papua at the International Association for Media and Communication Research.

READ MORE
Labourers from Bangladesh and Myanmar work at a wholesale market in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Credit: Shutterstock

MALAYSIA

Bina Ramanand shares that NGOs welcome the upgrading of Malaysia in the US ranking on actions regarding trafficking in persons while criticising remaining inadequate protection measures.

READ MORE

INDONESIA / WEST PAPUA

Jane Nabong shares the statement by the Indigenous Peoples Movement for Self-Determination & Liberation welcoming the verdict of the Permanent Peoples Tribunal Session on Environmental Destruction and State Repression in West Papua.

READ MORE
Cover of Indigenous Peoples Movement for Self-Determination & Liberation statement on the Permanent Peoples' Tribunal on West Papua. Credit: IPMSDL
Photo of Waheed Ahmad presenting. Credit: Waheed Ahmad

PAKISTAN

DTP congratulates Waheed Ahmad on his appointment as Chairman of the Child Protection Committee of the Lahore Bar Association for the year 2024-25.

 

Partner News

John from the Philippines waves a rainbow flag with a rainbow flag painted on his left cheek. Credit: FORUM-ASIA

FORUM-ASIA The legalisation of marriage equality by Thailand is celebrated by young LGBTQ+ activists. Thailand is the first in South East Asia to have enacted such a law. VIEW THE VIDEO

PIANGO Pacific Islanders Civil Society farewell Setareki Macanawai who has been a tireless advocate for people with disabilities in the Pacific region in his role as CEO of the Pacific Disability Forum READ MORE

MIGRANT FORUM IN ASIA The first webinar of the Grassroots Forum on Migration Governance series was held on 27 June. It looked at the question, "To what extent are we progressing in advancing the human rights of migrants?" WATCH HERE

 

News from the Region

5 youth environmental human rights defenders dressed in white holding two red roses stand in the middle of an empty street. Credit: Mother Nature Cambodia

CAMBODIA Ten Mother Nature environmental activists who documented environmental degradation convicted of ‘plotting’ and ‘insulting the King’ READ MORE

VIETNAM Six Indigenous farmers sent to prison resulting from a protest against former state-owned coffee company for land-grabbing and attack on their livelihoods READ MORE

ASIA Indigenous networks submit commentary on Indigenous Peoples and Mining Position Statement of the International Council on Mining and Metals, criticising lack of FPIC and benefit sharing READ MORE

MYANMAR ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights member Raoul Manuel calls on ASEAN member states to stop banks providing finance for arms purchases by Myanmar junta READ MORE

BANGLADESH JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France publishes Annual State of Torture and Extra-Judicial Killing in Bangladesh 2023 READ MORE

 

UN News and Calls to Contribute

UN Special Rapporteur on climate change Elisa Morgera presents her report to the Human Rights Council. Credit: UN/X

UN Special Rapporteur on climate change Elisa Morgera presents her report to the Human Rights Council emphasising the need to involve human rights holders most affected by climate change in address its challenges VIEW HER INTRODUCTION

NGOs at the UN Human Rights Council present an elaboration of the Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, Declaration +25, calling for action by governments, multilateral organisations, businesses, and civil society to protect human rights defenders and their activities READ MORE

UPR Working Group review of Fiji stakeholder submissions deadline is 16 July READ MORE

UN Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights tells Human Rights Council that a human rights economy is the only way to eliminate poverty and avoid an environmental catastrophe READ MORE

 

Resources

Pillar II Strategic Update is a compendium of developments in the business and human rights field. It lists each update, its significance, implementation implications and key takeaways for business READ THE LATEST UPDATE

 

Funding Opportunities and Events

The University of Peace is offering a four-week on-line course on operationalising the right to development in implementing the sustainable development goals, deadline 18 July APPLY HERE

Business and Human Rights Resource Centre Mary Robinson Speaker Series “Business is never neutral: Corporate responsibilities in conflict and crisis” online on 12 September READ MORE

 

2023 Annual Report

DTP's 2023 Annual Report is now available. It showcases DTP's activity throughout the past year as we returned to face-to-face programs.

READ MORE
Cover of DTP's 2023 Annual report. 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.

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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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