ACPP-Hotline Asia Training 2005
Workshop on
"Mobilizing Solidarity for Social Justice Advocacy"
10-13 October 2005

The Asian Center for the Progress of Peoples (ACPP) held its Hotline Asia (HL) Training Workshop 2005: "Mobilizing Solidarity for Social Justice Advocacy" on 10-13 October 2005 at the St. Gabriel Provincial House/Assumption Personnel Development Center, Bangkok, Thailand. This regional training workshop was held for the HL staff and network to strengthen the network of individuals and their organizations who play an active role for justice and peace efforts at the national level.

The Workshop aims to stimulate awareness and understanding of existing human rights advocacy process, explore related communication and networking skills to enhance the participants' actions related to their social justice activities and concerns in the local and national level, and identify effective actions or campaigns which are appropriate to the local situation. It is hoped that the participants can also play an active part in HL's role of providing accurate information and appropriate actions regarding unjust situations and human rights abuses that can be helped by international mechanisms in their countries.

There were 19 participants from 9 countries: Bangladesh (1), Hong Kong (4), India (4), Indonesia (1), Nepal (1), Pakistan (5), Philippines (1), Sri Lanka (1) and Taiwan (1). Most of them were from the Justice and Peace Commissions of the Bishop's Conferences and the Religious Superiors, Church based organizations and JPW network, like Caritas and other NGOs with human rights focus.

Using a case study on asylum seekers in Australia, they went through a process of advocacy from information research to human rights analysis, campaigning, lobbying at different offices and the use of Urgent Appeals and the media. There were inputs on the rights-based approach (RBA) including international human rights mechanisms, principles of campaigning, lobbying and press conference, as well as sharing of participants' skills and experiences through discussions and group work. It provided the participants a chance to gather, learn and network with each other for solidarity with action.

The main resource person for the workshop was Mr. Andre Frankovits of the Human Rights Council of Australia, while the facilitating team composed of Mr. James Tan, Ms. Katalee Sikharangkura, and Ms. Linda Noche of the ACPP.

At the end of the workshop, participants were able to answer some of their questions and expectations, ranging from the direction to address issues of poverty, the role of international campaigning on justice and peace issues and how to work against abuses of multinational companies. One of the participants was inspired to gather young people who are interested in Urgent Appeals in his area, while some have expressed the need to organize similar workshop in their own countries.