DTP E-Newsletter 205
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DIPLOMACY TRAINING PROGRAM

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

The next article in this year’s series on the impacts of global heating on human rights is by World Meteorological Organization Secretary-General Celeste Saulo, “Climate change undermines human rights”. Despite the welcome resolution by the UN Human Rights Council in 2021 that a healthy environment is a human right, every single one of the Sustainable Development Goals is negatively affected by climate change. Even though food and health insecurity is on the increase, and more and more people face forced displacement, the Secretary-General expresses hope that “the transition to renewable energy can improve basic socio-economic rights – the right to development”. READ MORE

In this issue we profile alumnus Htoo Chit, share news about DTP's programs, and calls from the UN for your engagement.

 

DTP Programs

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.

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

DTP BUSINESS AND HUMAN RIGHTS ALUMNI NETWORK WORKSHOP: December 2024, Bangkok. DTP is calling for expressions of interest from its alumni in participating in a three-day workshop in Bangkok, Thailand with a view of establishing a Business and Human Rights alumni network. REGISTER HERE

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]

 

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
DTP's Children's Rights logo. Credit: DTP
 

Alumni Profile

Photo of Htoo Chit. Credit: Htoo Chit

Htoo Chit

Htoo Chit is the Executive Director of the Foundation for Education and Development (FED), an NGO he established to support Burmese migrants in Thailand. Originally from Myanmar, Htoo Chit was targeted by the military junta because of his support for democracy and he had to leave Myanmar for Thailand following the 1988 democracy rising.

"DTP’s training was transformative. It has significantly enhanced my effectiveness as a human rights defender, providing me with a robust toolkit for advocacy and a supportive network of like-minded individuals committed to positive change."

READ MORE
 

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 Pranom "Bee" Somwong. Credit: DTP

THAILAND

Pranom ‘Bee’ Somwong shares Justice for Peace Foundation, Forum-Asia, Protection International press release, "Faces of the Victims: A Long Way to Justice", demanding action on disappearance cases including that of Lao activist Sombath Somphone.

READ MORE
Cover of The Problem of Chronic Internal Displacement in Papua report. Credit: Freepik - Mateus Andre

INDONESIA / WEST PAPUA

Alumni share new report, “The Problem of Chronic Internal Displacement in Papua”, which documents the issue of up to 100,00 internally displaced in Papua, 90% of whom are Indigenous Papuans.

READ MORE
Photo of Pill Kyu Hwang. Credit: Pill Kyu Hwang

ASIA

DTP alumnus Pillkyu Hwang from Korea was one of the speakers at the launch of the Responsible Business Conduct for Green, Digital and Resilient Supply Chains in Asia project, joining keynote speaker OECD Deputy Secretary-General Yoshiki Takeuchi

READ MORE
Photo of Mahendra Pandey. Credit: Mahendra Pandey

MIGRANT WORKERS

Mahendra Pandey who was a former migrant worker in Saudi Arabia and the founder of DTP partner PNCC discusses his work on behalf of migrant workers

LISTEN HERE
People lighting candles at monument marking Sathurukondan village genocide in Sri Lanka. Credit: Mireka Nageswaran

SRI LANKA

Nageswaran Mireka shares statement from activists and CSOs calling for justice for the 186 Tamil civilians killed by the army in Sathurukondan village, Batticaloa 34 years ago.

READ MORE
Photo of Asmadee Bueheng and Haisam Samae. Credit: Protection International

THAILAND

Pranom ‘Bee’ Somwong shares news of forthcoming December trial of human rights activist Asmadee Bueheng and mother of extrajudicially executed Haisam Samae, for their action to recover his body for Islamic burial.

READ MORE
Photo of Mubashar Hasan. Credit: SBS World News

BANGLADESH / AUSTRALIA

Mubashar Hasan writes on Sheikh Hasina’s downfall and the rights-based priority in countries' relations with Bangladesh following the Australian government's $1.8 million donation to aid in the recovery from widespread flooding.

READ MORE
Banner for International Conference on Gender Inclusion in NHRIs. Credit: NHRC Nepal

GENDER RIGHTS

Pratima Gurung shares reports from the International Conference on Gender Inclusion in NHRI.

READ MORE
Screenshot of Jonathan Mesulam at the launch of Wokisok Association. Credit: NBC News

PAPUA NEW GUINEA

Jonathan Mesulam shares excerpt from NBCNews of the launch of the Wokisok Association, providing small grants for community projects.

WATCH HERE
 

Partner News

Lord Vaea, Tonga Minister of Internal Affairs and PIANGO Executive Director Emeline Illohaia at the PIF Pacific People's Forum. Credit: PIANGO

PIANGO In the closing to the Pacific Peoples' Forum, Executive Director, Emeline Ilolahia reiterates that in order to create a more equitable and sustainable future, it is "essential to recognise that these challenges are not isolated problems but are deeply intertwined with our ecosystems, governance, economy, education, and social justice systems. We need to find the solution but requires everyone and not government alone.” READ MORE

ASIA INDIGENOUS PEOPLES PACT and partners released video "Voices of Indigenous Peoples on Environmental Rights in Southeast Asia" based on the Indigenous Peoples’ consultation workshop on the ASEAN Declaration on the Rights to a Clean, Safe, Healthy and Sustainable Environment Environmental Rights. WATCH HERE

FORUM-ASIA Article from Executive Director, Mary Aileen Diez-Bacalso analyses the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government and the Awami League Party resulting from the fight of Bangladeshi students against the human rights abuses of the League READ HERE

MIGRANT FORUM IN ASIA has released a FAQ video compiling information on the recently announced UAE government Amnesty program for those who have overstayed their residence visas in the country. WATCH THE VIDEO

 

News from the Region

Platsic litter washed up on sand marsh in Fiji. Credit: DTP

THE PACIFIC Vanuatu, Fiji and Samoa submit a proposal to the International Criminal Court to recognise “ecocide” as a crime alongside genocide READ MORE

AUSTRALIA Human Rights Watch urges Australia to formulate clear policies on its citizens wrongfully detained abroad and to appoint a senior person within DFAT to oversee appropriate action READ MORE

BANGLADESH Garment workers blacklisted and denied jobs after participating in protests about non-payment of wages, with personal information gathered by companies used to prevent hiring of activist workers READ MORE

AUSTRALIA New report, “Women in Native Title: Native Title Report 2024” calls for significant reform of the native title system to deliver land justice and fulfil human rights such as self-determination, participation, culture,  and non-discrimination for First Nations women READ MORE

VIETNAM Government uses new charge of ‘misappropriating state documents’ to arrest and detain environmental activists such as high-profile energy policy adviser Ngô Thị Tố Nhiên who has been sentenced to 42 months in prison READ MORE

BANGLADESH Recommendations of the CHT Commission to the interim government urge constitutional reform recognizing the Adivasi/Indigenous Peoples of Bangladesh, and recognition and protection of the human rights of Indigenous Peoples READ MORE

ASEAN Rohingya Community in Malaysia have called on ASEAN to develop a Regional Refugee Protection Policy and Mechanism as part of the ASEAN Vision 2045 READ MORE

 

UN News and Calls to Contribute

Save the date flyer for the 4th Pacific Business and Human Rights Forum. Credit: UN

The UN Pacific Regional Office encourages calls for participation in the 4th Pacific Business and Human Rights Forum in Fiji and on-line on 30-31 October FURTHER INFORMATION HERE

Opening the session of the UN Human Rights Council, High Commissioner for Human Rights warns against trend by authoritarian leaders to use minority groups, migrants and refugees as scapegoats in election campaigning READ MORE

UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances calls for inputs for a research on the use of universal criminal jurisdiction in cases of enforced disappearance, deadline 3 February 2025 READ MORE

 

Resources

The Asia Pacific Forum has a new website including resources on and promotion of National Human Rights Institutions in the region VIEW THE WEBSITE

 

Events

UN Human Rights Council Social Forum (in person) 31 October - 1 November, Palais des Nations, Geneva “The contribution of financing for development to the advancement of all human rights for all” REGISTER HERE

AIPP, in collaboration with its members and other co-organisers from Asia, “Remedying the Harm: Indigenous Peoples' Perspectives on Access to Remedies and Justice” side event at the 6th UN Responsible Business and Human Rights Forum, Asia-Pacific. 25 September, 10:30 AM (ICT/Bangkok time). REGISTER HERE

 

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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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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