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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 challenges in the 21st Century and what these mean for

human rights and capacity building. We invite our readers and alumni to contribute.

• Professor Vitit Muntabhorn, the UN Independent Expert on Protection against Violence and Discrimination based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity and a member of DTP’s International Advisory Council, in an article 'Asean human rights law' taking shape in the Bangkok Post commented on human rights in ASEAN and how to overcome stumbling blocks on the road to bringing human rights in Asia up to international standards.

… While the declaration itself has some innovative elements, such as the call to protect people with HIV/Aids, and advocacy of the right to development and peace, it has been heavily criticised by analysts. The stumbling blocks include the appearance of regional particularities (or "Asean values") in the text which might undermine universally recognised human rights principles.

• DTP relies on donations 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: For full draft schedule for 2017 – click here

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

February 27 – March 08 2017 Human Rights, Indigenous Peoples and the Private Sector – Schedule & Participants Sabah, Malaysia

March 31 – April 03 2017 The Human Rights of Migrant Workers –Malaysia – 1st Module – Schedule & Participants

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

May 21 – May 25 2017 The Human Rights of Migrant Workers – MENA Region – Schedule & Participants Doha, Qatar

June 2 – June 5 2017 The Human Rights of Migrant Workers –Malaysia – 2nd Module Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

June/August (5 days – Dates TBC)

“Leaving No One Behind” A Capacity Building Program on the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and Agenda 2030 to mark UNDRIP 10th Anniversary – Brochure, Application & Concept Note

Thailand (TBC) & Australia

Oct 2 – Oct 13 2017 DTP’s 27th Annual Regional Human Rights and Peoples Diplomacy Training Program – Brochure and Application

Dili, Timor-Leste

DIPLOMACY TRAINING PROGRAM E-NEWSLETTER May No 70 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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Reports • Advocating for the Rights of Migrant Workers in Malaysia – 1st Module (the Malaysian Bar Council)

• 26th Annual Regional Human Rights and Peoples Diplomacy Training Program, Timor Leste Oct, 2016

• Civil Society Workshop on Universal Periodic Review, Dhaka, Bangladesh, 26 August 2016

• Capacity building program on Human Rights, Indigenous Peoples, the Private Sector and Development in Indonesia May 28-June 4

• 25th Annual Regional Human Rights and Peoples Diplomacy Training Program, Sri Lanka – Feb-March, 2016 –

• Module 1, 2, 3 and 4 of Bangladesh – Capacity Building Program for Advocacy for Migrant Workers and Safe Migration

• Final report of 2015/16 Bangladesh – Capacity Building Program for Advocacy for Migrant Workers and Safe Migration

• Final report of 2014/15 Sri Lanka Capacity Building for Advocacy for Migrant Workers and Safe Migration and Summary Report of Module 5 (November 2015)

• Regional Workshop on Ethical Business and Recruitment Practices in Labour Migration, Dubai, UAE April 26-

29, 2016

• Article 19 Head of Asia Programme. Deadline 18th June 2017

• Sister Nicola Emmanuel, Executive Director, Child Development Initiative, Sri Lanka – DTP’s 2016 25th Annual Program Alumna

• Bunthea Keo, UNAMID (Sudan), DTP’s 2005, Alumnus

• In March 2017, DTP Alumnus Rafeek Ravuther, was elected as Chairperson of Migrant Forum in Asia

• In June 2016, DTP alumnus Wensislaus Fatubun was made a representative for West Papua in Geneva. Since then he has worked closely with the International Coalition for Papua (ICP) and seven Pacific Islands Countries to engage and strengthen advocacy on West Papua at the UN Human Right Council, as well as with the Swiss Government, to engage in a dialog between the Indonesian Government and West Papuans.

• DTP alumnus Ranjit Chandra Das of BASTOB (Initiative for People Self Development, Bangladesh) advises that BASTOB has been accredited to the UNGA Preparatory Process Global Compact for Migration

• DTP alumna Nayela Akter reports on her visit to Geneva to present the shadow report on Bangladesh to the UN Committee on Migrant Workers

Priorities for Human Rights Capacity Building

• From 10th February – 23rd February 2017, DTP conducted a survey of its alumni through a short questionnaire. The survey sought the input of alumni in identifying key human rights challenges in the Asia-Pacific Region and Middle East, priorities for knowledge and skills building and advice on DTP’s work in

supporting networks. 135 alumni completed the survey. See results.

• SMILE, Myanmar – An organisation in Myanmar, dedicated to eliminating poverty and unjust living conditions through quality education in critical thinking, dialogue and skill building.

• Fiji Media Watch – Media monitoring body and provide media education programs in Fiji

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• ISHR 2017 Annual Report: Supporting defenders, achieving change: A year of human rights impact

• IWGIA: The Indigenous World 2017 Special Edition

• 6th International Film Festivals for Peace, Inspiration & Equality invites you to submit in FilmFreeway

• The Hon. Michael Kirby AC CMG receives the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Star in Japan In recognition of his contribution to promoting international understanding of the situation of human rights in North Korea

• Human rights defenders from Cambodia, El Salvador and Egypt nominated for Martin Ennals award

Human Rights and Business • Myanmar and Thai NGOs support ‘Nation’ reporter hit by suit for ‘defaming’ mining firm

• Business and Human Rights Resource Centre launches Modern Slavery Registry

• Round Table on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) freezes palm oil company’s operations in Papua

• Complaint against ING Bank because of violation of OECD-Guidelines on climate change

• UN Special Rapporteur launches research tool compiling legal arguments on assembly and association rights

• Speech by Lilianne Ploumen, Dutch Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation: "The next frontier: the concept of corporate human rights defenders”

Indigenous Peoples’ Rights • Remarks to the High-Level Event of the UN General Assembly to mark the Tenth Anniversary of the UN

Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

• High-level event marked the 10th Anniversary of UNDRIP adoption

• Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues closes its sixteenth session with strong recommendations for improving the lives of Indigenous peoples, and the message, “nothing about us without us”.

• Strategic Litigation Impacts: Indigenous Peoples’ Land Rights

Migrant Workers’ Rights

DTP Monthly Migrant Workers Rights e-Bulletin. Issue No 5 is now available here

• José Ramos-Horta, Founder of DTP and Nobel Laureate speech at UNSW, Sydney: Our Shared Humanity: Protecting the Rights of Refugees and Migrants

• Launching of Bangladesh Parliamentarian Caucus on Migration and Development

• Best Practice Guidance on Ethical Recruitment of Migrant Workers

• DTP alumna Nayela Akter reports on her visit to Geneva to present the shadow report on Bangladesh to the UN Committee on Migrant Workers

• Nepal: Process of rescuing trouble-ridden Nepali workers in Gulf countries and Malaysia begins

• From alumnus Francis Solomantine: Initiative by the Dubai Permanent Committee of Labour Affairs and MECTD to educate foreign workers in UAE about their rights

Women’s rights • Women Demand Accountability of ASEAN: End Culture of Impunity

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• UN Human Rights Free and Equal Campaign #CultureOfLove

• Reinforcing rights: strengthening UN human rights treaty monitoring at a time of crisis

UPR

• The Civil Society Compendium: A comprehensive guide for Civil Society Organizations engaging in the Universal Periodic Review

Development • World Bank Group's financial intermediaries linked to various human rights abuses in Southeast Asia

• Human Rights Watch Submission re International Financial Institutions and Human Rights

• From DTP alumna Yuyun Wayuningrum: Taking Stock of 10 Years of ASEAN Charter: Human Rights Perspective

• ASEAN Summit: Leaders must take a stand against Philippines bloodshed

• ASEAN MPs call attention to human rights at World Economic Forum in Cambodia

• Civil society organizations push for autonomous ASEAN human rights court

Australia • The Uluru National Constitutional Convention has issued its historical statement – calling for a First Nations

Voice enshrined in the Constitution and a Treaty Commission to carry the process forward

• Closing the gap: Australia is failing on Indigenous disadvantage goals

• Report of the Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants on his mission to Australia and the regional processing centres in Nauru

• The UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights to review Australia’s implementation of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural rights (ICESCR) (30-31 May 2017). Submitted reports.

Bangladesh • Atrocities of the security forces intensified in CHT, says PCJSS representative at the UNPFII

Burma/Myanmar • Arrest Warrants Issued for Buddhist Nationalists

• UN criticizes Myanmar plan to resettle Rohingya in 'camp-like' villages

Cambodia • Cambodian lake activists still fighting against forced evictions

• #FreeThe5KH, arbitrarily detained for one year

India • From alumnus Jiten Yumnam: India faced questions about its human rights records from over 100 countries at

its 3rd UPR at UNHRC

• From Ravi Nair: The Indian government’s push, through a pliant media, for the use of plastic bullets bodes disaster for Kashmir

Indonesia • Death penalty, religious intolerance focus at Indonesia’s Universal Periodic Review

• Human Rights in West Papua feature in recommendations from Indonesia’s Universal Periodic Review

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Laos

• Three government critics jailed for up to 20 years

Malaysia

• Investigate two possible cases of enforced disappearance

• Take action: Three human rights defenders to be investigated by the police over claims of enforced disappearances

• Joint JOAS and AIPP statement: Stop the Judicial Harassment and Continued Intimidation against Jannie Lasimbang

Pakistan • The UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights to review Pakistan’s implementation of the

International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural rights (ICESCR) (12-13 June 2017). Submitted reports.

Sri Lanka • The UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights to review Sri Lanka’s implementation of the

International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural rights (ICESCR) (8-9 June 2017). Submitted reports.

Thailand • Number of post-coup lèse-majesté arrests surges to over 100

• Human Rights Lawyer Prawet Prapanukul Feared ‘Disappeared’

Vietnam • Take action: Environmental rights defenders targeted for their coverage of Formosa waste spill protests

• Vietnam Activist Arrested in Nghe An Province

• Take action: Beating of environmental rights defender Le My Hanh

In this section, we list contributions that appear on a regular basis that may be of interest to our readers

• Vietnam Human Rights Defenders Weekly

• Bangladesh Human Rights Monitoring Report, monthly from Odhikar

• AWPA Sydney News from the Australian West Papua Association (AWPA)

• Australia Asia Worker Links

• Kapaeeng Watch from Bangladesh

• Hurights-Osaka: Asia Pacific Human Rights Information Center

May 2017 E Newsletter compiled, edited and designed by André Frankovits and Patrick Earle

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