MEDIA RELEASE
Released By:
Downer
The Australian Government will conduct a further four introductory training
workshops in Human Rights and Responsibilities in Burma in July and
September-October 2001. The workshops will be held in Rangoon, and for the first
time in Mandalay, the second largest city in Burma. They will raise awareness of
international human rights standards and relevant UN conventions. The total cost
of the workshops will be approximately $140,000.
These 4 day workshops will be conducted by Monash University, presented by
Professor David Kinley, Mr Chris Sidoti, Ms Kate Eastman and Ms Sarah Joseph.
Participants will be middle level public servants drawn mainly from the
ministries of Education, Health, Labour and Foreign Affairs. Representatives of
Burmese civil society organisations will be invited to participate in the
workshops for the first time.
We harbour no illusions about the difficulty of promoting change in Burma,
but continue to believe that it is worth trying to promote long-term progress
through raising awareness in the specific area of human rights.
We are also encouraged by the continuation of the direct political dialogue
between Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC).
We believe sustained and constructive dialogue can lead to genuine progress in
the political situation in Burma, with the prospect for improvements in human
rights.
We have always believed the solution to Burma's problems in the long-term
lies in a genuine process of political reconciliation between the parties, in
particular with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and the National League for Democracy (NLD)
but also with representatives of Burma's ethnic groups.
Media inquiries:
Matt Francis (Ministerial) 02 6277 7500
Lyndall Sachs (Departmental) 02 6261 1555
Fionna Douglas (AusAID) 02 6206 4960