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We are continuing with our series of contributions on new human rights challenges and new developments affecting political, economic, social and environmental changes in the 21st Century and what these mean for human rights and capacity building. We invite our readers and alumni to contribute to these contributions.

This month DTP Founder and Nobel Laureate José Ramos-Horta delivered a Keynote Address at the University of Oxford in April entitled “Timor-Leste and Southeast Asia, The state Of Democracy and Human Rights”

DTP International Advisory Board member, Basil Fernando discusses : Why investigations into mass graves failed so far in Sri Lanka

Exhibition of posters

For DTP’s 25th Anniversary, UNSW Faculty of Law prepared an exhibition of posters featuring DTP alumni from the region, highlighting their work for Indigenous Peoples, Migrant Workers, Human Rights and Sustainable Development and on the human rights responsibilities of business.

DTP relies on donations of time and funds 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. Donations over $2 are tax-deductible. Please send your donation to DTP now online, or by credit card or EFT with this donation form

DTP Programs: 2016 Draft Schedule

2016 Program Location

February 1-4 Oxfam – 3rd Module: Rights and Advocacy - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Youth Program

Sydney

DIPLOMACY TRAINING PROGRAM E-NEWSLETTER April No 58 Email: dtp@unsw.edu.au | Website: www.dtp.unsw.edu.au | Phone: +61 2 9385 3549 | Fax: +61 2 9385 1778

Recipient of the Sir Ron Wilson Human Rights Award 2015

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Feb 18 – March 5, 2016

25th Annual Regional Human Rights Defenders Program Sri Lanka

March 1-4, 2016 The Human Rights of Migrant Workers –Bangladesh – 2nd Module

Dhaka

April 11- 15, 2016 Oxfam – 4th Module: Rights and Advocacy - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Youth Program

Sydney

April 27-29, 2016 2nd Regional GCC Program on Human Rights, Migrant Workers and the Private Sector

Dubai

May 1 DTP’s Alumni in Bangladesh – Review, Reflection and Planning

Dhaka

May 3-6 The Human Rights of Migrant Workers –Bangladesh – 3rd Module

Dhaka

May 25-June 3 Human Rights, Indigenous Peoples, the Private Sector and Development

Indonesia

June DTP’s Alumni in Indonesia – Review, Reflection and Planning

Indonesia

July (TBC) The Human Rights of Migrant Workers –Bangladesh – 4th Module

Dhaka

August Capacity Building for Human Rights in Asia-Pacific – Review, Reflection and Planning

Timor Leste/TBC

August/September DTP’s 26th Annual Regional Human Rights and Peoples Diplomacy Training Program

TBC

September (TBC) Human Rights, Indigenous Peoples Rights and Advocacy Darwin

September The Human Rights of Migrant Workers –Bangladesh – 5th Module

Dhaka

October The Human Rights of Migrant Workers – MENA Region Qatar

November 3rd Regional GCC Program on Human Rights, Migrant Workers and the Private Sector

UAE

November 28-December 16 (TBC)

DTP Australian Awards Fellowship Program Sydney/Canberra Melbourne

Please check the DTP website for details, program information and application forms. Please send enquiries to dtp@unsw.edu.au

Reports Report of 2015 Myanmar Regional Program on Human Rights, Business and Development

Learning the Lessons from 10 years of Capacity Building. This report reflects on the Diplomacy Training Program (DTP) and Migrant Forum Asia’s (MFA) activities to build the capacity of advocates for the rights of migrant workers in Asia and the Middle East since 2004 and Lessons Learned on Capacity Building for Migrant Workers’ Rights – (Nov 2014) Summary of Dubai Workshop. Click here for final report.

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4th Annual Middle East and North Africa Regional Training Program on the Rights of Migrant Workers – Kuwait, (Nov 2014), Executive Summary. Click here for final report.

The Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade has a reference from the Australian Parliament to Inquire into Australia's Advocacy for the Abolition of the Death Penalty. DTP has made a submission to the inquiry. Professor Andrew Byrnes, DTP Board Member made a statement at the Inquiry.

Special Program: Sri Lanka Capacity Building for Advocacy for Migrant Workers and Safe Migration – Summary Report of Module 5

Building Civil Society Capacity for Advocacy for Migrant Workers and Safe Migration: The Diplomacy Training Program in partnership with Migrant Forum Asia with WARBE, RMMRU – Draft Report Bangladesh Module 1

Other training programs ISHR Human Rights Defender Advocacy Programme (HRDAP) 8-22 June

Geneva Academy: Training on Understanding Economic Social and Cultural Rights, 6-10 June

Urgent appeal, Singapore: Halt the execution of Kho Jabing

Call for applications to participate in Asia-Pacific Regional Consultation on International Investment Agreements and Indigenous Peoples (2-3 May, 2016, Bangkok, Thailand)

Take action, India: Harassment of human rights defender Bela Bhatia

Take action, China: Human rights defender sentenced to three years in prison

Petition: “Now is the time to act. Urge States to end discrimination against women”

Urgent appeal, India: Man tortured and detained for more than nine hours in Kerala

Urgent action, Thailand: Targeted shooting of 5th community-based HRD outside Khlong Sai Pattana community, Mr. Supoj Kansong

Take action Vietnam: Human rights defender Nguyen Cong Thu brutally beaten

Take action, Qatar: Tell FIFA and sponsors to stop World Cup exploitation Photo competitions:

The Other Side of Migration - A global photo competition on migration and development

Submissions invited for the Allard Prize Photography Competition on themes of courage and leadership in combating corruption, accountability and the Rule of Law, and human rights

Tahirih Q. Ayn from the Institute of Human Rights in Sri Lanka is an alumni from the 25th Annual Program. She has sent us the latest news from the Institute.

John Tripura an alumnus from Bangladesh has sent us Kapaeeng Foundation Human Rights Report 2015 on Indigenous Peoples in Bangladesh and Mid-Term Review of the Implementation of the Universal Periodic Review Recommendations Relating to Indigenous Peoples In Bangladesh

From Pranom Somwong in Thailand: Southern Peasants Federation of Thailand (SPFT) continue to face death threats in Surat Thani Province

From Dilshan Weerasinghe in Sri Lanka: Sri Lankan expats hopeful of voting rights in Oman and Voting rights under consideration for migrant workers

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Human Rights Guide to the Sustainable Development Goals

OHCHR Training Guide on Human Rights in Budget Monitoring, Analysis and Advocacy

Crossroads is a video advocacy initiative aimed at developing and strengthening the advocacy and documentation capacity of migrant workers, refugees and stateless persons and their support organizations

Project Manager, Protection of Civic Space and Human Rights Defenders at Business and Human Rights Resource Centre, deadline May 3

Front Line Defenders: Research and Training Fellowship: Asia

Front Line Defenders is seeking cooperation with a consultant for a contract finishing by the end of 2019 to help in digital security support for HRDs and HR organizations at risk in south-east Asia

Sr Nichola Emmanuel who attended the DTP 25th Annual Program in Sri Lanka writes to us about her NGO Child Development Initiative.

DTP alumna Mary Ann Manja Bayang from the Philippines works with the UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Victoria Tauli-Corpuz. She took part in DTP’s Indigenous Training Program in Darwin/Batchelor in 2004.

Flora Bawi Nei Mawi from Myanmar, an alumna of DTP Indigenous Training Program in Sabah in 2012, works on climate change and disaster relief.

Human Rights and Business Advocacy tools on tax policy and human rights

India: POSCO to exit from the steel project opposed by villagers in Odisha over environmental impacts

Cambodia passes disputed trade union law as tension flares

‘Under Pressure’, a report on labour conditions in a number of garment factories in Myanmar which are either wholly Korean owned or joint-ventures with Korean companies

New Fairtrade Standard will not benefit garment workers

Indigenous Peoples’ Rights This year marks the 25th anniversary of Australia’s Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody. The

Commission made 339 recommendations and called for imprisonment to be a last resort, yet the incarceration rates of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, including women and youth have risen and deaths in custody continue. The Law Society of Australia , Law Society of NSW and Aboriginal Legal Service comment on the Royal Commission’s quarter century of failed redress

Indonesia: Pressure grows on Jakarta to tackle Indigenous rights abuses

Indonesia: Government yet to grant rights to Indigenous communities

Malaysian Baram mega-dam project scrapped: Indigenous people take back land

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Migrant Workers’ Rights Sri Lanka, Saudi Arabia sign e-hiring system for migrant workers recruitment

Nepali migrant worker in Saudi Arabia rescued by Non-Resident Nepali Association

ILO to Qatar: Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is or Else

Qatar World Cup 2022: FIFA ignoring migrant workers abuses, says Amnesty

Nepali migrant workers facing difficulty for lack of labour pact

Factors Pushing Sri Lankan Muslim Women to Seek Work in Middle East

Sri Lanka: Ensuring the rights of migrant workers

From Vani Saraswathi Strategic Advisor at Migrant-Rights.Org and DTP resource person: Your Guide To Employing A Domestic Worker in the GCC

Women’s rights Riding for Women's Rights

Thailand: Women Rights Defenders Honoured by the National Human Rights Commission

The United Nations Independent Expert on foreign debt and human rights calls on the international community to urgently put an end to financial secrecy

Following concerted lobbying by NGOs and civil society organizations, the Human Rights Council adopts historic resolution on protection of defenders of economic, social and cultural rights

Treaty bodies

Vanuatu Government comes well prepared in its appearance before the CEDAW Committee

In March this year Australia presented its report under CERD and the ICCPR. Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination's Concluding Observations on Australia and Human Rights Committee's Concluding Observations on Australia

Human Rights Council Solomon Islands raises concerns about human rights abuses in West Papua at the United Nations Human

Rights Council

International Service for Human Rights has produced a briefing paper on Thailand to assist stakeholders on Thailand’s forthcoming UPR

Human rights and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Human Rights in follow-up and review of the 2030 agenda for sustainable development

Statement by the UN Independent Expert on the effects of foreign debt and other related financial obligations of States on inequality in Goal 10 of the Sustainable Development Goals

The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights has produced a table setting out the human rights applicable to each of the Sustainable Development Goal

2016 Asia Regional Forum on Business and Human Rights – Programme with speakers

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Asia Pacific Regional Road Map on the implementation of the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda Comments and Recommendations by the Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact

Australia Why is it left to US NGOs to expose Australian mining's wrongdoing in Africa?

Report: Safeguarding democracy - Halt the erosion of Australia's democracy

Australia fails to address serious concerns in its UPR Report

Bangladesh SAHR condemns the gruesome killing of secular activist Nazimuddin Samad

Odhikar Human Rights Monitoring Report 2016

Burma/Myanmar ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights: Release of political prisoners in Myanmar represents a positive

step

New Expression Meets Old Repression: Ending the Cycle of Political Arrests and Imprisonment in Myanmar.

Cambodia From CCHR: Civil society condemn the arrest of CNRP lawmaker Um Sam An

From ANGOC: Attempted murder to an Indigenous environmental activist

Complaint submitted to UN Special Rapporteur against persecution of human rights defenders opposing dam and mining projects in Koh Kong province

Malaysia ICJ: Sedition investigation against Malaysian Bar members constitutes inappropriate interference

Philippines

Amnesty International: Historic ruling on police torture following Amnesty International campaign

Vietnam Vietnamese Committee on Human Rights condemns imprisonment of blogger and activist; Imprisonment of

bloggers and women activists marks escalation of crackdown

New Law on Access to Information and amended Press Law restrict freedom of expression and the right to know

April 2016 E Newsletter compiled, edited and designed by André Frankovits and Patrick Earle

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