Welcome to the first issue of the DTP E-Newsletter for 2025. This year, beginning with the next issue, we will highlight developments and human rights issues in the field of digital rights. Digital rights are those ensuring access to digital media and electronic communication networks, and ensure freedom of expression and privacy. They also serve to combat misinformation prevalent in social media. We invite E-News subscribers to contribute their thoughts and experiences in this emerging area of human rights.

In this issue, we profile alumna Pratistha Koirala, provide information about DTP's programs, including next year's Annual Human Rights and Peoples' Diplomacy Program in Timor-Leste, partners and the region, and calls from the UN for your engagement.

33rd ANNUAL HUMAN RIGHTS AND PEOPLES' DIPLOMACY TRAINING PROGRAM: Timor-Leste, August 25 - September 5, 2025 - 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. Applications close 31 March 2025. READ MORE

DTP BUSINESS AND HUMAN RIGHTS ALUMNI NETWORK WORKSHOP: 12-14 December 2024, Bangkok. DTP in partnership with MFA and AIPP held a three-day workshop with 23 alumni from 9 countries in Bangkok, Thailand with a view of establishing a Business and Human Rights alumni network. READ MORE

MIGRATION AND BHR TRAINING AND ADVOCACY WORKSHOP: 11 December, 2024, Bangkok. DTP/MFA alumni and representatives held a half-day workshop focused on business and human rights following the MFA annual conference. Participants reflected on over 20 years of DTP/MFA collaboration on capacity building, including a focus on the responsibilities of business to prevent and provide redress for harms to migrant workers and their families. READ MORE

BUILDING SOCIAL INCLUSION, HUMAN RIGHTS AND GENDER EQUALITY IN MYANMAR: 11-29 November, Australia in partnership with Lawkapala Foundation: 16 Fellows from the Myanmar diaspora participated in a knowledge exchange with Australian organisations, building their capacity and initiating lasting relationships between individuals and organisations in Myanmar and Australia. Program report to follow.

AUSTRALIAN AND ASEAN CIVIL SOCIETY EXCHANGE ON HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND MODERN SLAVERY IN THE FISHING INDUSTRY: 10 October - 7 November in partnership with MFA: 14 participants from Australia, Indonesia and Thailand CSOs were involved in discussions focusing on how Australian, Indonesian and Thai CSOs can collaborate to address trafficking and slavery in regional fishing supply chains connected to Australian retailers and consumers. READ MORE and READ THE DRAFT REPORT

"EMPOWERING HUMAN RIGHTS BY ERADICATING CORRUPTION": EXPLORING THE NEXUS: Malaysia. This pilot capacity building program in partnership with The Center to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4 Center) has been postponed to 2025. READ MORE

CLIMATE CHANGE AND THE PACIFIC: SHARING KNOWLEDGE, LISTENING AND STRENGTHENING PACIFIC VOICES: May 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.

DTP NETWORKING AND WEBINARS: DTP is planning a series of webinars to continue knowledge building with DTP alumni. Planning is underway for webinars on Genocide Convention, Magnitsky Acts and UN Mechanisms, Deep Sea Mining, and on Human Rights, Digital Rights and Artificial Intelligence. The first webinar in the Genocide series is available here. To express interest and/or suggest webinar topics, please contact [email protected]

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].

Special Rapporteur on toxics and human rights calls for input on Access to Justice and Effective Remedies in the Context of Toxics, deadline 4 March READ MORE

OHCHR Call for Input for report on sustainable HIV response with regard to the human rights of persons living with, at risk of or affected by HIV, deadline 14 March READ MORE

Special Rapporteur on truth, justice and reparation calls for input on economic, social and cultural rights in the context of transitional justice, deadline 30 January READ MORE

Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls calls for input to report to the HRC: Forms of sex-based violence against women and girls: new frontiers and emerging issues, deadline 30 January READ MORE

Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples call for inputs: Study on “Indigenous Peoples right to data, including data collection and disaggregation” deadline 31 January READ MORE

Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar call for inputs: Status of the rights of persons with disabilities in Myanmar, deadline 31 January READ MORE

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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