GC and Italian MfA renew their commitment to train Asia-Pacific human rights defenders in Timor-Leste

"I am proud that the training can be now organized in Timor-Leste (…).  

The programme is unique with its participatory approach, combined with its  
realistic introduction to the complexities of international politics that impact on human rights defenders”.  

José Ramos-Horta, President of the Republic of Timor-Leste and Peace Nobel laureate 

 

 

The Global Campus of Human Rights (GC), the Human Rights Centre of the National University of Timor-Leste (HRC-UNTL), and the Diplomacy Training Program (DTP) in Sydney are excited to continue their collaboration in advancing human rights education and capacity building. With renewed support from the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAECI-DGMO), the three organizations will once again join forces in 2025 to organize the “Annual Human Rights and People’s Diplomacy Training Program for Human Rights Defenders from the Asia-Pacific Region.” 

 

Building on the success of the 2024 edition, which saw a record 700+ applicants, the 2025 summer school will offer an intensive, residential program designed to enhance participants' knowledge and skills in human rights standards, sustainable development, lobbying, advocacy, and movement building. The program will bring together 35 human rights defenders, educators, and practitioners from Timor-Leste, ASEAN member states, and Pacific Island Forum countries. Regional experts and trainers from local, regional, and international universities and institutions will lead the training. 

 

The partnership, which began in 2024, marks an important milestone in the effort to strengthen human rights education in Timor-Leste and the broader Asia-Pacific region. The successful collaboration aligns with the shared goals of the GC, UNTL, and DTP to provide high-level training opportunities and foster cross-regional solidarity in human rights advocacy. Under the patronage of President H.E. José Ramos-Horta, the 2025 edition will again coincide with the anniversary of Timor-Leste's popular consultation, further underscoring the significance of human rights in the country's history. 

 

This initiative is part of a broader strategy to build the capacity of the UNTL Human Rights Centre (UNTL-HRC), which was established through a partnership between the GC and UNTL between 2019 and 2022, supported by the European Union. The success of the HRC-UNTL has been instrumental in enhancing Timor-Leste’s role as a leader in human rights higher education. Following the project, UNTL and GC work together under a cooperation agreement to strengthen the Centre's impact and internationalization   

 

“For two weeks, I actively engaged with equally passionate human rights defenders. There is no better place to learn about human rights, positive peace, and international solidarity than today’s Timor-Leste, as a powerful force to be reckoned with in ASEAN. The training cultivated my knowledge of climate change issues, the right to development, and various human rights challenges from the communities and countries of my brilliant colleagues”. 

Gianna Francesca Cattolico, 2024 participants from the Philippines  

 

This project is part of the GC Capacity Development programme.  
For more information contact adriano.remiddi@gchumanrights.org