The next article in this year’s series on the impacts of global heating on human rights is by Justice Susan Glazebrook of the New Zealand Court of Appeal, “Human Rights and the Environment”. Writing in 2008, Judge Glazebrook came to the conclusion that there was not as yet a right to the environment. She then systematically refutes a series of common objections to the acceptance of such a right. Focusing on the Pacific, she concludes that … “the right to a quality environment must be included in any regional human rights instrument. … Combined pressure is needed to convince the rest of the world to act to reduce greenhouse emissions. This points to a need for regional co-operation to apply this combined pressure. The articulation of a human right to the environment in a regional mechanism would support that combined action.” READ MORE

In this issue we profile alumna Bertha Samponu, provide information about DTP's programs, partners and the region, provide information about DTP's programs, and calls from the UN for your engagement.

BUILDING SOCIAL INCLUSION, HUMAN RIGHTS AND GENDER EQUALITY IN MYANMAR: 11-29 November, Australia: 15 Fellows from the Myanmar diaspora will participate in a knowledge exchange with Australian organisations, building their capacity and initiating lasting relationships between individuals and organisations in Myanmar and Australia. More information to follow.

CLIMATE CHANGE AND THE PACIFIC: SHARING KNOWLEDGE, LISTENING AND STRENGTHENING PACIFIC VOICES: February/March 2025, Australia. 15 Fellows from the Pacific Islands to participate in a program to increase the impact and influence of Pacific voices calling for more ambitious action on climate change. More information to follow.

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. 28 participants from 14 countries across the region. Trainers included UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Development, Professor Surya Deva. READ MORE

REGIONAL INDIGENOUS PEOPLES HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDER EXCHANGE, 18-23 August, Cambodia, with AIPP and IWGIA. DTP trainer and Training Committee member Matthew Coghlan led sessions on advocacy, business and human rights for Indigenous peoples rights defenders from across Asia. More details to follow.

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

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. 

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]

CAPACITY BUILDING PROGRAM ON ANTI-CORRUPTION AND HUMAN RIGHTS, December 2024, Malaysia. Details to follow.

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].

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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