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Alumnus Binota Moy Dhamai from the Chittagong Hills Tracts and Executive Director Patrick Earle accepted the award on behalf of the DTP alumni and DTP, presented by Sam Mostyn, Chair of the Australian Council for International Development

This year is the 25th anniversary of DTP’s first human rights training course in 1990 with DTP Founders Nobel Peace Prize winner and former President of Timor Leste, José Ramos-Horta and Emeritus Professor Garth Nettheim.

On the occasion of the 25th Anniversary of DTP we were delighted to have hosted the 1st DTP Fellowship Program in September.

DIPLOMACY TRAINING PROGRAM E-NEWSLETTER October 2015 No 53 Email: dtp@unsw.edu.au | Website: www.dtp.unsw.edu.au | Phone: +61 2 9385 3549 | Fax: +61 2 9385 1778

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For DTP’s 25th Anniversary, UNSW Faculty of Law has prepared an exhibition of posters featuring DTP alumni from the region, highlighting their work for Indigenous Peoples, Human Rights Defenders, Development and Business, and Migrant Workers.

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: 2015 Draft Schedule - January 26-29 - The Human Rights of Migrant Workers – Sri Lanka – 2nd session - March 16-17 - The Human Rights of Migrant Workers – Sri Lanka – practical lobbying exercise - May 4-13 - Human Rights and Development – Regional Capacity Building Program for Civil Society Advocates –

Myanmar. - May 11-14 - The Human Rights of Migrant Workers – Sri Lanka – 3rd session - May 24-28 – 4th GCC Regional Program on the Rights of Migrant Workers in the Middle-East – Doha, Qatar –

in partnership with MFA, Qatar Foundation and Georgetown University - June 8-11 with Oxfam – 1st Module: Rights and Advocacy - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Youth

Program Australia - July 20-23 - The Human Rights of Migrant Workers – Sri Lanka – 4th Session - July 21-24 - with Oxfam – 2nd Module: Rights and Advocacy - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Youth

Program Australia - November with Oxfam – 3rd Module: Rights and Advocacy - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Youth

Program Australia - November 17-20– The Human Rights of Migrant Workers – Sri Lanka – 5th Session - December 1-4 - The Human Rights of Migrant Workers – Bangladesh – 1st Session Brochure and application

form (closes 30 October) - February/March 2016- 25th Annual Regional Human Rights and Peoples’ Diplomacy Training Program – Sri

Lanka – (dates to be confirmed). Click here for Brochure and application form

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

Reports 2014 DTP Annual Report

Draft 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.

24th Annual Regional Human Rights and Peoples’ Diplomacy Training Program – Nepal (Nov 2014), Executive Summary

Lessons Learned on Capacity Building for Migrant Workers’ Rights – (Nov 2014) Summary of Dubai Workshop. Click here for final report.

2013 DTP Annual 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.

Report of Regional Workshop on Ethical Business and Recruitment Practices in Labour Migration in the Middle-East, North Africa and Asia, May 2014

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.

Other training programs

Amnesty International On Line course, 17 November : Human Rights: The Right to Freedom of Expression

Petition on Chittagong Hills Tracts: For the respect of the 1997 Peace Accord in Bangladesh!

Special Rapporteur on the right to housing: Questionnaire on Homelessness and human rights for upcoming report to the Human Rights Council, Deadline: 28 October 2015

Take Action Now: Cambodia: Human rights defender Vein Vorn detained

ILO launches global media competition on labour migration: “Reporting Fairly on Labour Migration”

Take Action Now: Malaysia - Continued detention of human rights defender Khalid Mohd Ismath and 14 charges against human rights defender Khalid Mohd Ismath

From Leonard Alaza in Malaysia: “UNICEF – Many Cultures, One Voice” childrens’ stories inspired by Indigenous peoples in Sabah and Sarawak - highlighting key points in the CRC

From Paula Makabory refugee based in Melbourne: Political Assassination of West Papuan High School Student by Indonesian Police

From Pallab Chakma at the Kapaeeng Foundation: Asia Indigenous Peoples' Declaration on the 21st Session of the UNFCCC-Conference of Parties

From Monica Morgan in Australia on the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples:

http://www.respectandlisten.org/treaty.html, http://stoptheintervention.org/past-events/20-mar-2015-treaty-forum, http://www.sovereignunion.mobi/tags/treaty

From Cynthia Deduro in the Philippines: Position paper of the alliance of environmental advocates "Jalaur River for the People's Movement"against the construction of the dam

From Yuyun Wahyuningrum in Indonesia: New international initiative: APPAP Asia Pacific Partnership for Atrocity Prevention

A new video resource launched by the Asia Pacific Forum explores the key steps in developing and leading effective human rights education program

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“Defending Dignity”: A Manual for National Human Rights Institutions on Monitoring Economic, Social and Cultural Rights

The Use of Photography in Advancing Human Rights

Bishnu Lal Shrestha who was a participant in the DTP Annual Regional Program in Nepal in 2014 has been appointed Vice President of the 'Disability Coordination Committee, Kathmandu Metropolitan City' by the Ministry of Federal Affairs and Local Development on October 2. He paid tribute to DTP and the DTP trainers and organizers:

Alumna Cynthia Deduro in the Philippines is campaigning against the building of the Jalaur Megadam Project in Calinog town, Iloilo Province. She also works on behalf of migrants workers and their families.

We would like to congratulate Sutharee Wannasiri from Thailand who has joined the Fortify Rights Team as Human Rights Specialist. For four years, Sutharee served as the Policy and Advocacy Coordinator for Amnesty International Thailand (AI Thailand). Most recently, Sutharee monitored the conflict in southern Thailand and focused on the prevention of torture through her work with the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.

We would also like to congratulate Syed Saiful Haque and all his colleagues at the "Welfare Association of Repatriated Bangladeshi Employees” (WARBE) for being granted Special Consultative Status by the United Nations Economic and Social Council. WARBE was established in 1997 by labour migrants returned from Saudi Arabia. It works for the rights of Bangladeshi migrants on the national, international and multilateral level.

Human Rights and Business Human rights group says Transfield Services could be liable for failing to disclose abuses at Australian off shore

detention centres in Nauru and Manus Island

Complaints Panel of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) upholds Forest Peoples Programme’s complaint against Golden Agri-Resources (GAR)

HRW: Hazardous Child Labor in Small-Scale Gold Mining in the Philippines

Indonesia: Freeport is greedy, says Maritime Affairs Minister Rizal Ramli

The TPP Prioritizes the ‘Rights’ of Corporations Over Workers, the Environment, and Democracy

Greenpeace calls on Thai Union to reject fishing practices that abuse human rights and the environment; company responds

“You all give me energy to do/contribute something to the disability sector despite some physical limitations.”

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OECD Guidelines complaint against GCM Resources over planned Bangladesh coal mine

UN Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery report on forms of slavery in supply chains of companies

Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Philippines: UN experts urge probe into killings of three Indigenous peoples’ rights defenders

Indigenous peoples and local communities lack legal rights to almost three quarters of their traditional lands

Report of the Special Rapporteur of the Human Rights Council on the rights of Indigenous peoples on the impact of international investment and free trade on the human rights of Indigenous people

Migrant Workers’ Rights Indonesia Repatriates 45 Migrant Workers from Syria

Qatar HRC recently hosts discussions with migrant workers from countries including India, the Philippines, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Nepal

OHCHR: Economic, Social and Cultural Rights of Migrants in an Irregular Situation

Pakistan: Migration resource Center to be established for workers

Indonesia to recall all domestic workers from Mideast by 2017

Indonesia: Abolition of the death penalty could help RI migrant workers

Global Forum on Migration and Development must play a role in the implementation of Migration-relevant 2030 SDGs

ILO adopts historic labour standard to tackle the informal economy

UN launches ‘Nelson Mandela Rules’ on improving treatment of prisoners but notes lack of provisions on the protection of LGBTI prisoners disabled persons and debtors

On World Day against Death Penalty, UN says practice deters neither drug crimes nor abuse

UN Food and Agriculture Organization launches an online database "The Right to Food around the Globe”

Treaty Bodies and special procedures CRC and CESCR expressed their concerns about privatization of education

UPR Reminders: The following States will be reviewed during the 23rd session from 2-13 November: Micronesia,

Nauru, Myanmar, Australia. The following States will be reviewed at the 25th session of the UPR which will be held in April/May 2016: Samoa, Papua New Guinea, Thailand

Burma-Myanmar UPR Forum: “Information on the Status of the Human Rights Situation in Myanmar”

Oral Statement of the International Commission of Jurists: “ICJ Maldives should accept and implement UPR recommendations on judicial independence and the rule of law”

Extra-territorial obligations Updated Working Paper – Human Rights Law Sources: UN Pronouncements on Extra-Territorial Obligations

Development Sustainable Development Goals: UN adopts Agenda 2030, but will governments follow through?

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“The World Bank is a Human Rights-Free Zone” – Philip Alston, UN expert on extreme poverty expresses deep concern

Tax policy is human rights policy: “reduce inequality by adopting taxation policies that are instrumental to achieving that aim”

ASEAN Disability Forum: Where are Disability Rights in the Sustainable Development Agenda?

Application Form for Consultative Relationship with the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) 1 November deadline

Australia An Indigenous couple whose home was raided following the Palm Island riots in north Queensland has been

awarded more than $200,000 in damages by the Court of Appeal

UN investigation into asylum seeker detention cancelled due to risk of reprisals

Latest stats reveal Indigenous imprisonment crisis is worsening

Australia at the Human Rights Council: Ready for a Leadership Role?

Bangladesh Amnesty International: Open Letter to The Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina: Government

Memorandum Restricting Access to Chittagong Hill Tracts Poses Serious Human Rights Concerns

Burma/Myanmar Amnesty International: 'Going back to the old ways': A new generation of prisoners of conscience in Myanmar

Human rights defenders sentenced to three months imprisonment

Human rights defender Patrick Khum Jaa Lee detained

China Occupying Hong Kong: How deliberation, referendum and civil disobedience played out in the Umbrella

Movement

India Historic amendment to India’s caste atrocity legislation passed in the Lok Sabha (lower house of Parliament)

Indonesia Indonesia’s forgotten genocide – 50 years on

Amnesty International: Report reveals endemic judicial flaws in death penalty cases

Malaysia HRW: Court Ruling Sets Back Transgender Rights

Human Rights Groups Denounce Attempt to Expel Indigenous Peoples from the Proposed Baram Dam Site

Philippines Killing of human rights defender Lito Abion

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Sri Lanka Asia Human Rights Commission: OHCHR Investigation contributes to reconciliation and justice development in

Sri Lanka October 2015 E Newsletter compiled, edited and designed by André Frankovits and Patrick Earle

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