AAPP November 2018 Newsletter

TRAININGS

Figure 1 Transitional Justice Training in Htinthada

Human Rights, Documentation of Human Rights Violations, and Transitional Justice Training Held in Kachin State and Irrawaddy Division

As a part of the series of regular Human Rights, Documentation of Human Rights Violations, and Transitional Justice Training, the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma) (AAPP) held two long trainings in the month of November. A 13-day training from November 5-17 was organized in Momauk Town, Kachin State and a 12-day training from November 6-17 was organized in Hinthada Township, Irrawaddy Division.

The 13-day training from November 5-17 was administered by AAPP’s Human Rights Trainer, Ma Zun Pun, and Human Rights  Documentation, and Transitional Justice Trainer, Ko Tin Myo Htut. A total of 25 people (18 women and 7 men) participated in the training. Participants included members of National League for Democracy (NLD), Civil Society Organization (CBOs), student union, Sanay Kywat Lat Phae Welfare and KYAC, ECO Youth Camp၊ Mung Ding Pa Youth၊ Moemuk Youth, Bhamo Youth, disability and students and participants are from Kachin, Burmese, Shan-Burmese, Lisu and Shan Ethnic backgrounds. Momauk Town faces not only land confiscation, but also difficulties to make Identification Card if made with  ethnic name, landmines, tributes and arbitrarily arrests by ethnic armed groups and villagers were forced to labour by military. There are also restrictions to go from villages to villages due to war in Kachin State.

The 12-day training from November 6-17 was administered by AAPP’s Human Rights Trainer, Ko Aung Thein Kyi and Human Rights Documentation Trainer and Transitional Justice Trainer Ko Sai Myint Thu. A total of 30 people (15 women and 15 men) participated in the training. Participants are civilians, university students, members of National League for Democracy (NLD), People’s Party, Farmers’ Union, Ingapu Social Development Network, Karen People’s Party, Prevention, Protection and Watch of Human Rights and Promoting of People’s Life and anti-corruption outside of Parliament. They all are from Karen and Burmese backgrounds. Hinthada Township faces land confiscation and insufficient compensation for people whose houses were moved when roads and bridges are being constructed.

These trainings served as capacity building measures, aiming to encourage and inform the participants about democratic principles and help them protect their human rights.

ADVOCACY AND LOBBYING

AAPP met with Ministry of Health and Sports

Figure 2 Meeting with Ministry of Health and Sports

On November 27, Mental Health Assistance Program (MHAP) Chief U Kyaw Soe Win and Counselors Daw Thandar and U Moe Kyaw Aung met with Deputy Director-General of Ministry of Health Dr. Thida Hla at the office of the Ministry of Health and Sports in Nay Pyi Taw to discuss ways to improve community based mental health counseling.

International Visitors Visited AAPP’s Mae Sot Office

Figure 3 Visitors to AAPP musuem from England

On November 12, two visitors from Norway, November 19, one visitor from Netherlands and November 20, six visitors from England visited to AAPP’s Mae Sot Office, Thailand. Ma Moe Pan Phyu from AAPP explained AAPP activities, and the conditions endured by political prisoners and the human rights situation in Burma and answered questions. After that, Ma Moe Pan Phyu explained the exhibition.

MENTAL HEALTH ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
Counseling

In November, two counselors visited the Women Development Center in Yangon every Saturday and Sunday. Two clients completed their counseling sessions and two clients are continuing their treatment. In the Women Development Center in Yangon, there are around 100 women. AAPP-MHAP has provided for 69 clients in total between April 2017 and November 2018, of those who were eligible for CETA counseling.  

Three counselors visited to Women Vocational Training Center in Yangon on every Saturday and Sunday. Three clients completed their counseling sessions and seven clients are continuing their treatment.

One supervisor and five counselors visited to Hgnet Aw Sann Youth Training Center (Juvenile prison) on every Monday. 17 clients completed their counseling sessions in the end of November and another 17 clients will start their treatment in December by one supervisor and five counselors.  

In November, three counselors and one supervisor started to provide mental health counseling services to Training School for the Disabled Adult in Yangon which is under the Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement. They are providing 7 clients who are eligible for CETA counseling.

In November, AAPP-MHAP Yangon team counselors also provided CETA mental health counseling services for former political prisoners and their family members, other vulnerable population in Yangon area.

A counselor from Magwe Region provided CETA mental health counseling services for HIV patients in Nat Mauk and Taung Twin Gyi in Magwe Region.

A counselor from Bago Region provided CETA mental health counseling services for former political prisoners, their family members and other vulnerable populations in Bago area.

AAPP-MHAP Mandalay team counselors also provided CETA mental health counseling services for former political prisoners and their family members, other vulnerable population in Mandalay area.

In November, AAPP-MHAP Mae Sot team provided CETA mental health counseling services for the migrant population, victims of human trafficking, and victims of the ongoing conflicts in Burma. In November, four female and seven male clients completed their CETA counseling sessions and 19 female and 11 male clients continued  their counseling sessions.

Provide Mental Health Awareness and Self Care Training

Figure 4 Self Care Training in Htinthada

On November 17, Kyaw Soe Win, In-charge of MHAP provided mental health awareness and self-care training to 21 participants of AAPP’s Basic Human Rights, Human Rights Documentation and Transitional Justice training which was held in Moe Mauk, Kachin State.

On November 17, Htin Aung, MHAP Trainer provided   mental health awareness and self-care training to 29 participants of AAPP’s Basic Human Rights, Human Rights Documentation and Transitional Justice training in Hinthata, Ayeyarwaddy Region.