AAPP’s November Newsletter 2019
Human Rights Discussion
Human Rights Lectures Provided in Six Townships in Sagaing Division, Three Townships in Shan State, and One Township in Mandalay Division
In November, AAPP provided a total of (52) basic human rights lectures to students in KawLin Township, Won Tho Township, Pinlebu Township, Kathar Township, Ban Maut Township, and Htigyaing Township in Sagaing Division, Naung Cho Township, Kyaukme Township, and Thibaw Township in Shan State, and Pathein Township in Mandalay Division. A total of 16,300 students attended the lectures, and teachers joined.
Human Rights Lecture in Kathar Township
- In Kawlin Township, AAPP provided (8) lectures to students of (8) Basic Education High School, and (1) lecture to students of (1) Private High School. A total of 2485 students attended the lectures, and teachers joined.
- In Won Tho Township, AAPP provided (3) lectures to students of (3) Basic Education High School. A total of 1180 students attended the lectures, and teachers joined.
- In Pinlebu Township, AAPP provided (6) lectures to students of (6) Basic Education High School. A total of 2560 students attended the lectures, and teachers joined.
- In Kathar Township, AAPP provided (6) lectures to students of (6) Basic Education High School. A total of 2130 students attended the lectures, and teachers joined.
- In Ban Maut Township, AAPP provided (3) lectures to students of (3) Basic Education High School. A total of 720 students attended the lectures, and teachers joined.
- In Htigyaing Township, AAPP provided (7) lectures to students of (7) Basic Education High School, and (1) lecture to students of (1) Monastic Education School. A total of 3035 students attended the lectures and teachers joined. In addition, AAPP provided (1) lecture to (60) of Township and Community Executive Members at the National League for Democracy (NLD) office in HtigyaingTownship.
- In Naung Cho Township, AAPP provided (4) lectures to students of (4) Basic Education High School, and (2) lectures to students of (2) Branch Basic Education High School. A total of 2060 students attended the lectures and teachers joined.
- In Kyaukme Township, AAPP provided (5) lectures to students of (5) Private High School. A total of (710) students attended the lectures and teachers joined.
- In Thibaw Township, AAPP provided (2) lectures to students of (2) Basic Education High School, and (2) lectures to students of (2) Branch Basic Education High School. A total of 1100 students attended the lectures, and teachers joined.
The lectures were provided by AAPP representatives, Ko Wanna Nwe, Ko Kyaw Oo, Ko Khin Maung Win, and AAPP’s graduates of Human Rights Training Of Trainers (TOT), Ma Tin Win Maw Htwe, Ma Wai Wai Khaing, Ma Thandar Soe, Ma May Yi Sai Khaung, Ma Kyi Pyar, Ko Pyae Sone Aung, Ma Mya Nyein Chan, and Ko Sai Tayzar. The main topics discussed were history of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), humanitarian law, eliminating discrimination, and the negative effects of drugs. Then, we showed movie clips about responsibility and accountability and there was a question and answer session with students. At the end of each presentation, AAPP distributed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) pamphlets to raise awareness about human rights amongst the participants.
Advocacy and Lobbying
Discussion on Policy Recommendations on Social Justice
Social Justice discussion
On November 5, U Bo Kyi, Joint Secretary of AAPP, attended the discussion on policy recommendations on social justice
Consultative Workshop on Prison Reform
Consultative workshop on Prison Reform
On November 4 and 5, Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) held a consultative workshop on Prison Reform. Organizations working on political prisoner issues attended consultative workshop and the organizations were GW, OMI, GPS, HRDP, Athan, FPPS (Bago), FLC, 88 Generation: Peace & Open Society (Bago), Than Lwin Citizen Empowerment, and Key Population Organizations, Myanmar MSM & TG Network, SWIM, Asia Catalyst, Alliance Myanmar, DPAG, NDNM (Kachin), MdM, LGBT (MDY), and AMA (MDY).
Representatives of the German Embassy Visited AAPP
Meeting with German Embassy representatives
On November 11 at 11am, Thomas Kari Neisinger, Ambassador of the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany, Yangon, Philipp Muller (Legal Research Assistant) and Theingi Lynn (Assistant for Press, Political and Economic Affairs) visited AAPP’s office in Rangoon and looked around “The Memory of the Past Museum” where AAPP officials gave them a museum tour. Then, U Bo Kyi, AAPP Joint Secretary, Ko Zaw Moe, AAPP’s Documentation and Research Chief and Deputy of Foreign Affairs, U Kyaw Soe Win, in charge of MHAP, Ma Than Than Htay, Supervisor of MHAP, held a meeting with them and discussed AAPP’s current activities along with the political and human rights situation in Burma.
Discussion with Department of Information and Public Relations in Kawlin Township
Discussion with Department of Information and Public Relations
On November 13, Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) held a meeting with Civil Society Organizations and Department of Information and Public Relations in Kawlin Township and Ko Wanna Nwe, AAPP’s Trainer explained them about AAPP’s current activities along with the political and human rights situation in Burma, and the circumstances that have to face with the transitional period of Myanmar.
UPR National Reporting Workshop
Attending UPR reporting workshop
On November 15, U Aung Myo Kyaw, AAPP Head of Rangoon Office, and Civil Society Organizations attended UPR National Reporting Workshop held by the Attorney General’s Office and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
Transitional Justice Finding Workshop
Transitional Justice workshop
On November 18, U Bo Kyi, AAPP’s Joint Secretary, U Aung Myo Kyaw, AAPP’s Head of Rangoon Office, and AAPP’s Documentation and Research Chief and Deputy of Foreign Affairs attended Transitional Justice Finding Workshops held by British Club and My Justice Organization, and they discussed the Transitional Justice finding.
Meeting at the National League for Democracy in Htigyaing Township
Meeting with NLD at Htigyaing Township
On November 21, AAPP’s Trainer Ko Wanna Nwe, U Thein Han, regional parliament representative, U Chit Htwe, Township NLD Chairman, and Township/Community leaders met and discussed AAPP’s current activities, human rights condition in Myanmar, circumstances that have to face with transitional period of Myanmar and 2020 election.
General Activities
Assistance Association for Political Prisoners Give Funding for 13 Prisoners
On November 5, including U Min Htin Ko Ko Gyi, a former political prisoners in Insein Prison, and 13 political prisoners gave funding to the Department of Prisons, on behalf of Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP).
Trainees from iPACE (2019 term 4) Visited AAPP
iPACE students visiting AAPP musuem
On November 11, a total of (23) trainees from iPACE(2019 term 4)Democratic foundation led by Ko Than Zaw Oo visited AAPP. U Aung Myo Kyaw, AAPP’s Head of Rangoon Office, and U Kyaw Soe Win, AAPP-MHAP Chief hosted and discussed the activities of AAPP, the current situation of human rights and the political situation in Myanmar. They also answered the questions of the trainees. Then, the visitors looked around AAPP’s museum.
AAPP’s Secretary and Joint Secretary Attended Czech Republic National Day
AAPP staff attending Czech National Day
On November 15, U Tate Naing, AAPP’s Secretary and U Bo Kyi, Joint Secretary attended Czech Republic National Day
The Joint Memory of Myanmar Program and Launch of AAPP’s Report
launch of AAPP’s new thematic report
On November 17, an event was held for the celebration of the 30th anniversary of the Czech Republic’s revolution in 1989, the launch of the joint Memory of Myanmar program and launch of AAPP’s report, “The Systematic Use of Torture by Totalitarian Regimes and the Experiences of Former Political Prisoners”. Representatives from various organizations, news media, and interested people attended the event.
The Launch of AAPP’s The Experiences of Political Prisoners Report
Diplomatic Briefing
On November 18, 2019, AAPP and the Burma Center Prague presented their joint project, the documentary “Memory of Myanmar” and launched the report “the Systemic Use of Torture by Totalitarian Regimes in Burma the experiences of Political Prisoners.” The report was presented as a Diplomatic Briefing, held at the European Union (EU) Office in Yangon. Mr. Viktor from the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Myanmar, Ms. Brigitte from the European Union (EU) and representatives from EU member states attended the event. The event included a discussion about the report and documentary, including the projects’ purpose and upcoming work. It was held between members of the AAPP, U Bo Kyi, U Aung Myo Kyaw and Ko Zaw Moe, the director of the Burma Centre Prague Ma Sabal Soe and Czech legislator Mr. Tomas.
Japanese Students Visited Mae Sot AAPP Office
On November 25, Japanese students visited AAPP’s office in Mae Sot, Thailand. Ma Moe Pang Phyu from AAPP hosted and held a discussions regarding activities of AAPP, Human Rights situation in Burma and current political prisoners’ issue and then the visitors looked around AAPP’s museum
Mental Health Assistance Program (MHAP)
Training
Providing Stress Management & Basic Coping Skills training
On the 7th – 9th of November, MHAP trainer Htin Aung and counselor Lwin Moe Myint travelled to Lashio Township, Northern Shan State and gave Stress Management, Basic Coping Skills and self-care training to 9 female participants and 10 male participants of Ta’ang Students and Youth Organization (TSYU). Participants gain the basic coping skills, stress management skills and understanding of self-care.
Self care training hosted by Community Partners International
On the 15th of November, MHAP trainer Htin Aung and counselor Lwin Moe Myint provided Stress Management and Self-Care training to the two female participants and 11 participants of Financial Literacy and Emotional Self-Care training that is hosted by Community Partners International (CPI).
On the 18th of November, Kyaw Soe Win, in charge of MHAP gave mental health awareness and self-care training to Taungtha Youth Organization, human rights defenders and NLD party members of Taungtha Township, Mandalay Region. Three female participants of Taungtha Youth Organization, 12 male participants of NLD party members and 13 male human rights defenders were participating in the training.
On the 20th of November, Kyaw Soe Win, in charge of MHAP gave mental health awareness and self-care training to human rights defenders and NLD party members of Myingyan Township, Mandalay Region. 17 female and 16 male were participating in the training.
Counseling
In November, six female counselors visited Women Vocational Training Center in Yangon on every Saturday and Sunday. Five female clients were completed their counseling sessions and 22 female clients are receiving their treatment.
A counselor visited Women Development Center in Yangon on every Saturday in November, one female client was completed their counseling sessions and one female clients are receiving counseling.
In November 2019, two supervisors and 11 counselors visited Hgnet Aw Sann Youth Training Center (Juvenile prison) on every Monday and Friday. In November 2019, total 38 male clients are receiving their counseling sessions.
Two female counselor and two male counselors are providing counseling to one female trainee and 11 male trainees of Disable Adult Vocational Training Center in Yangon. Two male clients completed their counseling sessions in November.
In November 2019, AAPP-MHAP Yangon team counselors are also providing CETA mental health counseling services for former political prisoners and their family members, other vulnerable population such as HIV patients, victims of human trafficking, victims of raped and poverty effected population in Yangon area.
AAPP-MHAP Mandalay team counselor is providing CETA mental health counseling services for former political prisoners and their family members, other vulnerable population in Mandalay area.
AAPP-MHAP Mae Sot team provided CETA mental health counseling services for migrant population, the victims of human trafficking, sex workers and victims of civil war in Myanmar. In November, nine female clients and four male clients were completed their counseling sessions and 24 female clients and 17 male clients are receiving counseling.
- For more information:
Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP)
Tate Naing (Secretary)
+95(0) 9428 023 828
U Bo Kyi (Joint-Secrtary)
+95(0) 942 503 8840
Aung Myo Kyaw (In-Charge of Rangoon Office) +95(0) 942811 7348
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