DECEMBER NEWSLETTER 2019
Human Rights Discussion
Human Rights Lectures Provided in Sagaing Division and Rangoon Division
In December, AAPP provided a total of 9 basic human rights lectures in Kathar Township, Sagaing Division and one lecture in South Dagon in Rangoon. A total of 2,465 attended the lectures.
Figure 1 Human rights lecture in Kathar
- In Kathar Township, AAPP provided 6 lectures to students of 6 Basic Education High Schools, and 1 lecture to students of 1 Private School. A total of 2,255 students and teachers attended the lectures. Moreover, AAPP provided 1 lecture to 40 Township and Community Executive Members at the National League for Democracy (NLD) office in Kathar Township. In addition, AAPP provided 1 lecture to over 70 villagers in Kyauk Htone Gyi Sanpya Village in Kathar Township.
- AAPP provided 1 lecture to over 100 students and teachers in South Dagon Township in Rangoon.
The lectures were provided by AAPP representatives, Ko Wanna Nwe and Ko Khin Maung Win, and AAPP’s graduates of Human Rights Training Of Trainers (TOT) courses, Ma Tin Win Maw Htwe, Ma Wai Wai Khaing and Ko Pyae Sone Aung. The main topics discussed were the history of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), humanitarian law, eliminating discrimination, and the side effects of drugs. Then, we showed movie clips about responsibility and accountability, and there was a question and answer session with participants. At the end of each presentation, AAPP distributedUniversal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) pamphlets to raise awareness amongst the participants.
Advocacy and Lobbying
Consultative Workshop on Prison Reform
Figure 2 Consultive meeting on prison reform
On December 7, AAPP held a consultative workshop on prison reform in Naypyidaw and Mandalay. A total of 52 people, including 25 members of Committees of the lower house, eight members of Committees of the upper house, people from organizations led by political prisoners, and Key Populations organizations attended the workshop.
Discussion on Policy Recommendations on Social Justice
Figure 3 Discussion on policy recommendations
On December 7, the discussion on policy recommendations on social justice was organized by Institute for Strategy and Policy (ISP-Myanmar) in Naypyitaw. U TateNaing AAPP secretary, attended the Discussion.
Citizen’s Fundamental Rights Committee of the Pyithu Hluttaw Received AAPP
Figure 4 Meeting with Committee of the Pyithu Hluttaw
On December 9, U Saw, Chairman of the Citizen’s Fundamental Rights Committee of the Pyithu Hluttaw, received the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) at the meeting hall of the House of Representatives in Nay Pyi Taw. U Win Myint Aung, secretary of the committee, the committee members, U Tate Naing, AAPP Secretary, and U Aung Myo Kyaw, Rangoon Office’s Chief, attended the meeting.
Ambassador of the Czech Republic to Myanmar visited AAPP’s office.
Figure 5 Czech ambassador visiting AAPP
On December 10, Ms. Hana Mottlová, Ambassador of the Czech Republic to Myanmar, visited AAPP’s office in Rangoon. Then, AAPP officials gave her a museum tour. Following this, Ko Bo Kyi, AAPP Joint Secretary, Ko Zaw Moe, AAPP’s Documentation and Research Chief, Deputy of Foreign Affairs and Daw Than Than Htay, Supervisor of MHAP, met with Ms. Hana Mottlová to discuss AAPP’s current activities, the political and human rights situations in Burma and the 2020 election.
Ambassador of France to Myanmar visited AAPP’s office
Figure 6 French Ambassador visiting AAPP
On December 10, a group led by Mr. Christian Lechervy, Ambassador of France to Myanmar, visited AAPP’s office in Rangoon. AAPP officials gave the group a tour of AAPP’s Memory of the Past museum. Following the tour, the group met with Ko Bo Kyi, AAPP Joint Secretary, and Ko Zaw Moe, AAPP’s Documentation and Research Chief, to discuss AAPP’s current activities, along with the political and human rights situation in Burma.
Meeting with Citizens’ Fundamental Rights, Democracy and Human Rights Committee
Figure 7 Meeting with Amyotha Hluttaw
On December 10, a meeting was held between AAPP and the Citizens’ Fundamental Rights, Democracy and Human Rights Committee of the Amyotha Hluttaw at the meeting hall of the Amyotha Hluttaw in Nay Pyi Taw. U Myo Htat a.k.a Salai Myo Htike and committee members, U Tate Naing, AAPP Secretary, and U Aung Myo Kyaw, Rangoon Office’s Chief, attended the meeting.
Meeting with Ambassador of the Czech Republic to Myanmar
Figure 8 Meeting with Czech Ambassador
On December 11, Ms. Hana Mottlová, Ambassador of the Czech Republic to Myanmar, met with representatives of AAPP, Open Myanmar Initiative (OMI), ATHEN, Pen Myanmar, Thanlyin Institute, Network for Human Rights Documentation Burma (ND-Burma)၊ Human Rights Defenders and Promoters (HRDP) in Rangoon at the residence of Ambassador . U Bo Kyi, AAPP Joint Secretary, Ko Zaw Moe, AAPP’s Documentation and Research Chief, Deputy of Foreign Affairs attended the meeting.
Open Society Foundation visited AAPP’s office in Rangoon.
Figure 9 Meeting with Open Society Foundations
On December 16, 2019, Open Society Foundation visited AAPP’s office in Rangoon. Michael Helflin (Director of Equality), Lu Han (Program Officer), and Sue Gunawardena-Vaughn (Associate Director for Campaigning) were given a tour of AAPP’s Memory of the Past museum by AAPP officials. Afterwards, U Bo Kyi (AAPP’s Joint Secretary), U Aung Myo Kyaw (Head of the Rangoon Office), and U Kyaw Soe Win (Research Chief and Deputy of Foreign Affairs) met with them to discuss AAPP’s current activities, along with the political and human rights situation in Burma.
General Activities
A Visitor Visited Mae Sot AAPP Museum
On December 3, a visitor from Norway visited the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) in Mae Sot, Thailand. Ma Moe Pang Phyu from AAPP hosted and gave a museum tour.
Mental Health Assistance Program (MHAP)
Basic Coping Skills and Self-Care Training
Basic Coping Skills and Self-Care training
On the 9th – 10th of December, Htin Aung, trainer of MHAP provided Basic Coping Skills and Self-Care training to Myanmar Youth Stars organization in Yangon. 12 male and six female participants participated in the training.
Counseling
In December, MHAP Yangon Team 3 supervisor and three counselors travelled to Pakokku Township, Magway Region and provided mental health counseling to former political prisoners and their family members.
In December, four female counselors visited Women Vocational Training Center in Yangon on every Saturday and Sunday. 18 female clients were completed their counseling sessions and 13 female clients are receiving their treatment.
A counselor visited Women Development Center in Yangon on every Saturday in December, one female client was completed their counseling sessions and two female clients are receiving counseling.
In December 2019, two supervisors and 11 counselors visited Hgnet Aw Sann Youth Training Center (Juvenile prison) on every Monday and Friday. In December 2019, total 38 male clients are receiving their counseling sessions.
In December, 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 December, five female clients and seven male clients were completed their counseling sessions and 21 female clients and 19 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) +66(0)819628 713
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