From December 12-14, 2024, 23 DTP alumni from nine countries across Asia met in Bangkok for a three-day alumni workshop on Business and Human Rights (BHR) Network Building, together with advocates on BHR from East Asia. The workshop was held with DTP’s partners in BHR capacity building - Migrant Forum in Asia (MFA) and Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact (AIPP) – along with FORUM-ASIA.
The alumni represented over 30 years of experience in human rights advocacy in Asia, including participants from 1991 through to 2024’s ASEAN Human Rights Advocacy Academy. They were joined by BHR experts from Japan, South Korea and Taiwan who shared their BHR programs and networks.
Workshop participants reflected on DTP’s 20 plus years BHR capacity building in Asia, discussed the current context, challenges, opportunities and priorities. These include new digital technology, climate change, investor advocacy and due diligence laws – and the impacts on marginalised and vulnerable communities.
The workshop identified common areas of concern between human rights, Indigenous peoples and migrant workers’ movements in Asia. It was agreed that there were gaps in capacity building, particularly at the grass roots level, and in knowledge, information and experience sharing – and a need for more collaboration across the region.
As part of the program, the Australian Embassy in Bangkok hosted a BHR Dialogue including DTP alumni Sumitha Kishna, Gopinath Parakuni and Frederic Wilson, along with Lucia Pietropaoli (ASEAN-Australia Counter Trafficking Program), Antiek Wahyu (NS BlueScope (Thailand) Limited) and Sanna Leino (Embassy of Sweden, Thailand).
This workshop was a recommendation of the June 2023 DTP Asian Alumni Workshop on Human Rights Capacity and DTP Network Building. Participants discussed building better regional networking between DTP alumni, partners and others on BHR in Asia. Workshop participants agreed to take this discussion forward in 2025 with new capacity building programs being planned.
DTP acknowledges the support of the Porticus Foundation, the Australian Government through the Australian NGO Cooperation Program (ANCP) and from the National Endowment for Democracy for the delivery of this event.
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.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples should be aware that this website contains images or names of people who have passed away.
We are a proud partner of UNSW Law & Justice
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.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples should be aware that this website contains images or names of people who have passed away.
We are a proud partner of UNSW Law & Justice
Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Disclaimer | Policies
© 2022 Diplomacy Training Program | ABN 31 003 925 148 | Web Design by Studio Clvr
