DTP E-Newsletter 206
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DIPLOMACY TRAINING PROGRAM

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

For the next contribution to this year’s series on the impacts of global heating on human rights we provide a link to an article by Natika Kantaria from International & Regional Organizations at Stimpson. In her piece, “Can We Really Switch Off Human Rights When We Negotiate on Climate?” she points out that at most international events and declarations on climate change, human rights may only be referred to in passing, whereas “…Human rights should serve as a foundation for our approach and understanding of climate change.” READ MORE

In this issue we profile alumna Alzira Sequeira Freitas dos Reis, 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

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.

"EMPOWERING HUMAN RIGHTS BY ERADICATING CORRUPTION": EXPLORING THE NEXUS: 2-6 December 2024, Malaysia. Applications open for this pilot capacity building program in partnership with The Center to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4 Center), deadline 31 October. READ MORE

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

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]

 
DTP trainer Joshua Cooper and participants at the Brown Bag lunch. Credit: DTP

DTP Brown Bag Lunch with Joshua Cooper

As advocates prepare for the General Assembly and COP29 in Azerbaijan, DTP was joined by trainer Joshua Cooper for a Brown Bag lunch discussion on Regenerative Human Rights, Climate Resilience & Sustainable Development Goals: Pacific Priorities from UNGA79 to UNFCCC COP29.

READ MORE
 

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 Alzira Sequeira Freitas dos Reis. Credit: Alzira Sequeira Freitas dos Reis

Alzira Sequeira Freitas dos Reis

Alzira is a human rights advocate from Timor-Leste with decades of experience in the field of women and child rights. Currently, Alzira is the Country Director of ChildFund Timor-Leste part of ChildFund Australia. She provides strategic leadership in conceptualisation and management of diverse child rights related programs such as supporting early childhood education, enhancing child literacy rate, youth empowerment and promoting maternal and child health in Timor-Leste.

"DTP trained me how to engage with government agencies diplomatically. The training taught me to appreciate the power of networking in diplomacy. We built a network of alumni after the training and kept in touch."

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].

Flyer for webinar Myanmar's revolution towards Sustainable Trainsformation. Credit: Alliance for Free Burma Solidarity

MYANMAR

DTP alumni and trainers Debbie Stothard, Aung Myo Min, Sushil Pyakurel, Boonthan Verawongse and Laddawan Tantivitayaitak all took part in Webinar “Myanmar’s Revolution towards Sustainable Transformation” at the Asia Pacific Social Forum.

Freddy Gamage and other journalists from Center for People Dialogue on the Internet Safety Act. Credit: Jaffna Press Club

SRI LANKA

Kumari Fernando shares news of three workshops organised by the Center for People Dialogue on the Internet Safety Act recently passed in Sri Lanka which could be used to silence journalists.

Photo of Sumitha Shaanthinni Kishna. Credit: Sumitha Shaanthinni Kishna

MALAYSIA

Podcast “Advocating for Migrants in Malaysia” featuring Sumitha Shaanthinni Kishna.

LISTEN HERE
Hoolock gibbon. Credit:  Kaziranga National Park website

INDIA

Alumnus shares that Union Environment Ministry has given its nod for exploratory oil and gas drilling in the Hoollongapar Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary threatening endangered hoolock gibbons.

READ MORE
Participants at the Two days CEDAW Write-Shop. Credit: Magna Carta PNG

PAPUA NEW GUINEA

DTP alumni were among the participants at a CSO-led preparatory workshop on a CEDAW shadow report for PNG’s 4th to 6th report to the CEDAW Committee. A final report will be written in November CONTACT HERE TO TAKE PART

READ MORE
Justice for Tobias Silak logo. Credit: Justice for Tobias Silak/Facebook

INDONESIA / WEST PAPUA

Alumni share of silent action by the people in Yahukimo and statement from Justice for Tobias Silak, urging for the perpetrators to be prosecuted following his murder by security forces.

READ MORE
Joshua Cooper delivering a talk to UNTL Human Rights Centre staff and students. Credit: UNTL Human Rights Centre

TIMOR-LESTE

DTP trainer Joshua Cooper delivered a talk to staff and students at UNTL Human Rights Centre on the environmental crisis and mechanisms how to present in the Human Rights Council and International Treaties.

READ MORE
Sumitha Shaanthinni Kishna and speakers at the Global Forum for Responsible Recruitment. Credit: Sumitha Shaanthinni Kishna

MALAYSIA

Sumitha Shaanthinni Kishna was one of the featured speakers at the Global Forum for Responsible Recruitment held in June in London.

LISTEN HERE
 

Partner News

Grassroots Forum on Migration Governance banner. Credit: GFMG

MIGRANT FORUM IN ASIA is organising a Global Forum on Migration and Development WhatsApp community for grassroots organizations working on migration and human rights JOIN HERE

FORUM-ASIA New short video “What Needs to be Done for Women and Girls in Afghanistan” VIEW HERE

ASIA INDIGENOUS PEOPLES PACT and Forest Peoples Programme (FPP) have developed an introductory series of animations on carbon markets, forests and Indigenous Peoples' rights aiming to support Indigenous Peoples and forest peoples WATCH HERE

BUSINESS & HUMAN RIGHTS RESOURCE CENTRE The Selangor Labour Department has initiated an investigation into allegations of forced labour involving over 200 Bangladeshi workers employed by Malaysian plastics company Kawaguchi Manufacturing READ MORE

 

News from the Region

Kaung Htet and Chan Myae Thu. Credit: ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights

MYANMAR ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights condemn the execution of two pro-democracy activists and the threats to execute up to 120 more, and call on ASEAN to act READ MORE

BANGLADESH The CHT Commission and IWGIA call on the Interim Government to put a stop to the ongoing violent attacks on the Indigenous Jummo community in the CHT READ THE STATEMENT

SRI LANKA In its interim report on the recent Presidential Election which saw the election of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, ANFREL welcomes the level of voter participation but criticises some aspects of the campaign including the impact of the new Campaign Finance Law READ MORE

GLOBAL ITUC seeks support for a petition demanding a binding international treaty that addresses the power and impact of megacorporations on the human rights of workers SIGN HERE

QATAR The organisation Sherpa’s complaint against Vinci Construction Grands Projets has been affirmed by the Qatar investigating chamber which has indicated the company for forced labour 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

FAO Indigenous Peoples Unit (PSUI) is calling for submissions for an Indigenous Peoples' art contest aimed at Indigenizing its future publications and advocacy materials, deadline 6 October READ MORE

OHCHR call for inputs on ensuring quality education for peace and tolerance for every child, deadline 8 November READ MORE

UN Human Rights Office, Raoul Wallenberg Institute, UCLG Committee on Social Inclusion, Participatory Democracy and Human Rights webinar “Social Movements and Inclusive Participation in Cities", 11 October REGISTER HERE

Working Group on the right of peasants and other people working in rural areas calls for input into the implementation of the UN Declaration on the rights of peasants, deadline 16 October READ MORE

Reminder: UPR 49 submissions from stakeholders from Kiribati and Laos close on 11 October READ MORE

UN Women unveils game-changer data: Women’s Economic Empowerment is key for inclusive development and well-being in the Asia and the Pacific region READ MORE

 

Resources

The APF Library is a digital repository of publications and legal resources from national human rights institutions in the Asia Pacific region 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
ABN 31 003 925 148

https://dtp.org.au/

+ (61 2) 9385 3549
[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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