Anna Rosario Malindog-Uy

DTP alumna Anna Rosario Malindog-Uy is the Vice President and Director at the Asian Century Philippines Strategic Studies Institute. She is also a Ph.D. candidate in Economics at the Institute of South-South Cooperation and Development (ISSCAD) at Peking University, Beijing, China. Anna is an advocate for the right to development of the Global South countries.

Anna’s research and advocacy centers on promoting equitable growth, social justice, and autonomy in development policy-making. She delves into critical areas such as fair trade, debt relief, technology transfer, environmental justice, and sustainable development.
A key milestone in Anna’s human rights advocacy has been bringing local issues to the global stage through international forums, media engagements, and publications, underscoring the importance of connecting grassroots realities with global advocacy efforts.

Anna credits DTP training for significantly enhancing her knowledge and advocacy skills.

“By equipping me substantially with the practical skills and knowledge to navigate complex diplomatic channels, the DTP empowered me to voice my communities’ needs on larger platforms and engage in productive dialogue with international stakeholders.”

Anna described DTP training as a “transformative experience“.

“DTP training has been invaluable, equipping me with tools to engage with international human rights mechanisms like UN treaty bodies and the UPR. Practical advocacy sessions in the training sharpened my skills in campaign building and policymaker engagement, while media training enhanced my understanding how to be strategically visible. Additionally, DTP fostered a diverse network of advocates, enabling collaboration and amplifying impact, especially for those in the Global South.”

The journey in human rights advocacy can be challenging and exhausting, but Anna shared that the DTP program taught her the importance of self-care and resilience. She said that DTP training helped her recognise and manage the emotional toll of this work, a lesson she considers essential for sustaining her passion and long-term commitment to the field.

Anna’s early life experiences and upbringing profoundly impacted her passion for human rights. In the Philippines she grew up in an environment where social or economic challenges were prevalent. “I witnessed communities where inequality, discrimination, and limited access to resources were daily realities, and I feel a strong personal connection to the struggles that human rights work addresses”. Literature, faith, or cultural teachings emphasizing human dignity and kindness have, in many ways, shaped Anna’s passion for advocating, promoting, and protecting human rights.

Anna believes that DTP training would benefit Philippines’ human rights activists, advocates, and defenders. Given the country’s complex socio-political landscape, where issues such as land rights, Indigenous Peoples rights, and environmental protection intersect with human rights concerns, DTP training could equip Filipinos with essential tools to navigate these challenges.