The 2nd Regional Training of Trainers on Disability Equality Training (DET) was held on 3 - 11 November 2010 at the Institute of Training, National Council of Welfare and Social Development in Kuala Lumpur. The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and the Department of Social Welfare, Ministry of Women Family and Community Development, Malaysia jointly organized the training. There were sixteen participants from Thailand, India, Nepal, The Philippines, Papua New Guinea and Malaysia. Mr. Kenji Kuno, Senior Advisor on Social Welfare (Disability) of JICA, was the main resource person. The training had the following aims:
For further information, please contact: Disabled Peoples' International Asia-Pacific (DPI/ AP) Regional Office, 92 Phaholyothin 5 Road, Samsennai, Phayathai Bangkok 10400 Thailand; ph (662) 271-2123; fax (662) 271-2124; e-mail:saowalak@dpiap.org; www.dpiap.org
The Department of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of the Philippines and the Working Group for an ASEAN Human Rights Mechanism organized the “ASEAN Human Rights Workshop Series: Developing National Human Rights Action Plans” on 11-12 November 2010 in Manila. The workshop discussed the concept of National Human Rights Action Plans (NHRAPs); shared experiences in developing and implementing NHRAPs; discussed whether or not it was advantageous for countries to adopt their respective NHRAPs; discussed the challenges in coming up with NHRAPs; and had a dialogue among relevant stakeholders on how human rights could be better promoted and protected. Representatives of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of all ASEAN Member States, ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights, government line agencies primarily handling human rights issues and concerns from all ASEAN Member States, National Human Rights Institutions in ASEAN (Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand) and Selected Civil Society Organizations attended the workshop.
For further information please contact: Secretariat, The Working Group for an ASEAN Human Rights Mechanism, G/F Human Rights Center, School of Law, Ateneo de Manila University, Rockwell Drive, Rockwell Center, Makati City, Metro Manila, Philippines; ph: (632) 899-3633; 899-7691 loc. 2111; ph/fax: (632) 899-4342; e-mail: info@aseanhrmech.org; www.aseanhrmech.org
The Working Group for an ASEAN Human Rights Mechanism and the Singapore Working Group for an ASEAN Human Rights Mechanism (locally known as Maruah) held a two-day workshop entitled “Applying Corporate Social Responsibility within an ASEAN Human Rights Framework” on 30 November - 1 December 2010 in Singapore, with the support of the ASEAN CSR Network and Singapore Compact. The workshop aimed to raise awareness on the United Nations Framework on Business and Human Rights, particularly on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), in the context of the protection of and respect for human rights, and sought to provide opportunities to share best practices among the participants on CSR and human rights. The workshop was attended by representatives of the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights, ASEAN Ministries of Foreign Affairs, the business community, civil society organizations, and other relevant government agencies in ASEAN.
For further information, please contact: The Secretariat, Working Group for an ASEAN Human Rights Mechanism, G/F Human Rights Center, School of Law, Ateneo de Manila University, Rockwell Drive, Rockwell Center, Makati City, Metro Manila, Philippines; ph (632) 899-3633; 899-7691 loc. 2111; ph/fax (632) 899-4342; e-mail: rsantiago@aps.ateneo.edu; www.aseanhrmech.org.
The South East Asia National Human Rights Institutions Forum (SEANF) consisting of the National Human Rights Commission of Indonesia [Komisi Nasional Hak Asasi Manusia (KOMNAS HAM)], the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia [Suruhanjaya Hak Asasi Manusia (SUHAKAM)], the Commission on Human Rights of the Philippines (CHRP), the National Human Rights Commission of Thailand (NHRCT) and the Provedor for Human Rights and Justice of Timor Leste (PDHJ), held the 7th Annual Meeting of SEANF in Kuala Lumpur on 15-16 November 2010. The SEANF member-institutions adopted the following five joint projects, namely, (i) the Joint Project on Preventive Legislation and Its Impact on Human Rights; (ii) the Joint Project on Human Rights Education; (iii) the Joint Project on Anti-Trafficking in Women and Children; (iv) the Joint Project on Migrant Workers and (v) the Joint Project on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the Right to Development. They also discussed (i) the role of SEANF in South East Asia; (ii) the role of SEANF vis-à-vis the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR); (iii) the role of SEANF in supporting the International Coordinating Council of National Human Rights Institutions (ICC) Strategic Plan 2010-2013 and the Asia-Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institutions (APF) Operations Plan 2011; (iv) the role of SEANF in the review of the Human Rights Council and its mechanisms and (v) the role of SEANF in the drafting of the ASEAN Declaration on Human Rights. They agreed to actively engage with AICHR, the ASEAN Committee on t he Implementation of the ASEAN Declaration on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Migrant Workers (ACMW), the ASEAN Commission on the Rights of Women and Children (ACWC) on thematic issues of common concern such as migrant workers, trafficking in persons, women and children, statelessness as well as business and human rights.
For further information, please contact: ASEAN NHRI Forum, www.aseannhriforum.org
The Partners for Law in Development (PLD) is organizing the South Asia Training of Trainers on CEDAW “Strengthening Application of CEDAW in South Asia” in April and August 2011 in New Delhi. The regional training of trainers (ToT) is open to all practitioners of the Convention for Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) from South Asia, and aims to strengthen the capacities of stakeholders in advancing the application of CEDAW in local and national contexts. It seeks to refresh and deepen the understanding of concepts, facilitate implementation in key contexts of gender inequality in South Asia, and familiarize with diverse applications of CEDAW, including the review processes. The participants will be selected based on the following criteria:
a. Women’s rights activists, lawyers, non-governmental organization (NGO) workers and government officials;
b. Three to seven years of experience in holding trainings on women’s rights. Applicants with greater experience who have not had opportunity to participate in a regional ToT may also apply;
c. Demonstrated experience in applying CEDAW in their contexts, as trainers, advocates or programmers;
d. Strong commitment to work towards women’s human rights at the local and national levels.
Both men and women may apply, though women with commensurate experience will be given preference. Twenty-five participants covering all eight SAARC countries are invited to apply for this regional training of trainers. Trainers and practitioners will be given preference, and selection will be equitably drawn from all the SAARC member states. Applicants must be fluent in English as that will be the medium of communication. This capacity building initiative is supported by UNIFEM SARO. Applications will be sent out in late January 2011.
Partners f or Law in Development, F-18, First Floor, Jangpura Extension, New Delhi- 110014 India; ph (9111) 24316832/33; ph/fax: (9111) 24316833; e-mail : pldindia@gmail.com; www.pldindia.org