JUNE NEWSLETTER 2019

DISCUSSIONS Afterward, AAPP staff answered the questions of Human Rights Lectures Held in the participants. Division At the end of each presentation, AAPP distributed In June, AAPP held a total of seven human rights the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) lectures to students in Township and pamphlets to raise awareness of human rights Township in Mandalay Division. A total amongst the participants. of 2,560 students and teachers attended the lectures. TRAINING In Meiktila Township, AAPP provided (4) lectures Human Rights (Trainers) and Transitional to students of Meiktila Computer University, Justice (Advance) Training Held in Meiktila Technological University, Meiktila University of Economics and Meiktila University. A The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners total of 1,660 students and teachers attended the (Burma) (AAPP) held a Human Rights (Trainers) lectures. and Transitional Justice (Advance) Training in the In , AAPP provided (3) lectures month of June. A 20-day training from June 6-25 to students of Meiktila Degree College, A Linn Oo was organized in Pyin Oo Lwin Township, Yin Free Education School and Shar Taw Village Mandalay. Monastery School. A total of 900 students and teachers attended the lectures. The training was administered by AAPP’s Human Rights Trainer, Ko Saw Than Hlaing, and Transitional Justice Trainer, Ko Sai Myint Thu. A total of 24 people (15 women and 9 men) participated in the training. Participants included members of Karen Literature and Culture, National League for Democracy(NLD), Ta’ang Women Organization (TWO), Kachin Women Association Thailand (KWAT), 88 Peace and Open Society, Future Light Youth Network, Kuki Students, Ray of Light, Roman Catholic Youth Group, CSO NW, CA Group, Zomi Students and Youth Organization Figure 1 Human Rights Lecture at Shar Taw Village Monastery School (ZSYO), Color Rainbow Youth Welfare, Ywet Sein Nu Environmental Conservation Group, Marga AAPP representatives, U Aung Myo Kyaw and Ko Social Welfare Association, Mother Land, Mai Wei Wanna Nwe gave an introduction of AAPP and its Youth Group and Yi Ywel Yar Social Development activities and purpose of the lecture. Then, U Aung Group. Participants are from Shan, Burmese, Danu, Myo Kyaw, Ko Wanna Nwe and Ko Khin Maung Karen, Mon, Kachin, Ta’ang, Shani, Kuki and Chin Win addressed the attendees. During our discussion, Ethnic backgrounds. Participants, who attended the we showed a powerpoint presentations about the 30 training from the different areas, had reported the Articles of the Universal Declaration of Human human rights violations occurring in these areas. The Rights (UDHR) and responsibility and ethnic armed groups ask for tributes and recruitment accountability and there were questions and answers from the villages near Kyaukme and Hsi Paw with students. Then, we showed a short cartoon Townships in Northern Shan State, freedom of about discrimination, discipline and showed short movement are restricted in Namhsan Township in films to students about how they should try to reach Shan State while villagers are often questioned due their goal and persevere when they are on their to the fights which occurred often and civilians are journey of life and then discussed with them. not able to travel freely in Kachin State.

Meeting with Representatives of the United States Embassy On June 4, John Ryan (Political Officer, Political- Economic Section), Micah L. Watson (Human Rights International Organizations) and Khine Mwan Lurnn (Political Specialist – Political and Economic Section) from the United States Embassy visited the AAPP office in Rangoon and had a look around “the Memory of the Past Museum”. Ko Zaw Moe, AAPP’s Documentation and Research Chief and Deputy of Foreign Affairs, gave them a museum tour. Then, U Bo Kyi, AAPP Joint Secretary, U Kyaw Soe Win, AAPP-MHAP Chief,

Figure 2 HR and TJ Training at Pyin Oo Lwin and Ko Zaw Moe met with them and discussed AAPP’s current activities and the current political These trainings served as capacity building conditions in Burma. measures, aiming to encourage and inform the participants about democratic principles and help them protect their human rights.

ADVOCACY AND LOBBYING Meeting with Representatives of the British Embassy On June 4, Zoe Hambrjdgr ( Desk Officer, FCO of British Embassy), Ko Zaw Naing Oo a.k.a Khaing Thurein (Political Officer of British Embassy) and Naw Luu Luu (Programme Officer ) from the British Embassy visited the office of AAPP in Rangoon. U Bo Kyi, AAPP Joint

Secretary, U Soe Naing, head of AAPP’s Finance

Department, U Kyaw Soe Win, AAPP-MHAP Figure 4 Meeting with US Embassy Chief, and Ko Zaw Moe, AAPP’s Documentation and Research Chief and Deputy of Foreign Affairs, Process Negotiation of Prison Reform and held a meeting with them and discussed AAPP’s Reduction the Number of Inmates Meeting current activities and the current political conditions in Burma. Following the meeting, Ko Zaw Moe On May 5, U Tate Naing, AAPP Secretary, U Bo gave them a museum tour. Kyi, AAPP Joint Secretary, U Aung Myo Kyaw, head of AAPP Rangoon Office and U Soe Naing, head of AAPP’s Finance Department, attended and discussed the Process Negotiation of Prison Reform and Reduction the Number of Inmates Meeting at the Pyithu Hluttaw Public Affairs Management Committee. MPs, who are committee members, and chairman of the Committee, Myanmar National Human Rights Commission (MNHRC), Myanmar Police Force, Correctional Department, International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), members of the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) and Parliament based Public Support Team attended the meeting.

Figure 3 Meeting with British Embassy

attended the EU-Myanmar Civil Society Forum on Human Rights which was held in Nay Pyi Taw.

Figure 7 Attending EU-Myanmar Civil Society Forum on Human Rights

Figure 5 Attending Prison Reform Meeting Representatives of the British Embassy, including the British Ambassador, visited AAPP Meeting with the US Embassy and Reparation On June 17, representatives of the British Embassy Working Group in Rangoon led by Dan Chugg (Ambassador of On the 10th June 2019, Ambassador Kelley Currie, British Embassy, Yangon) and Menna Rawlings, Ambassador Scot Marciel (US Ambassador to the Director-General Economic and Global Issues at the Republic of the Union of Burma), Mr. Ari Bassin Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) visited the (Senior Advisor, US Department of State) had a AAPP office in Rangoon and had a look around meeting with members of Reparation Working “The Memory of the Past Museum”. AAPP officials Group; Ko Tate Naing (AAPP), Ko Bo Kyi gave them a museum tour; then U Aung Myo (AAPP), Ko Zaw Moe (AAPP), Ko Han Gyi (ND- Kyaw, head of AAPP Rangoon Office, U Kyaw Soe Burma), Ko Ye Aung (OMI), Ko Twin Lin Aung Win, AAPP-MHAP Chief, Ko Zaw Moe, AAPP’s (GPS), Ma Thet Thet Aung (FLC), at American Documentation and Research Chief and Deputy of Centre and discussed the purpose of organizing Foreign Affairs and Ma Than Than Htay, supervisor Reparation Working Group, Reparation Policy, of AAPP-MHAP, held a meeting with them to Implemented Activities and the Future Plan. discuss AAPP’s current activities and the current Members of RWG provided the answers relating to political conditions in Burma. questions raised by Ambassadors and Senior Advisor. Then, they also discussed the current Human Rights Situation of Burma and the possible opportunity of developing a Reparation Policy in Burma.

Figure 8 British Embassy Representatives visiting AAPP

Figure 6 Meeting with US Embassy and Reparation Working Group

AAPP Attended EU-Myanmar Civil Society Forum on Human Rights

On June 12, Zaw Moe, AAPP’s Documentation and Research Chief and Deputy of Foreign Affairs,

GENERAL ACTIVITIES MENTAL HEALTH ASSISTANCE PROGRAM Delivered a Speech at the World Drug Day Attended the National Mental Health Policy On June 25, U Aung Myo Kyaw, Rangoon Office Revise Workshop in Nay Pyi Taw Head, delivered a speech on behalf of AAPP at the ceremony of the World Drug Day which was From June 5th to June 6th, U Kyaw Soe Win, organized by Pa’O Youth Organization at Taunggyi AAPP-MHAP Chief, and Ko Zaw Moe, AAPP’s in Shan State. Documentation and Research Chief and Deputy of Foreign Affairs, attended the National Mental Health Policy Revise Workshop. It was held in Green Amara Hotel in Nay Pyi Taw.

Figure 9 Speech at World Drug Day

Figure 11 Attending National Mental Health Policy Revise Workshop in Nay Pyi Taw International Day in Support of Victims of Torture MHAP Presentation to Vocational Training On June 26, Assistance Association for Political School for Disabled Adults Prisoners (AAPP), Women's League of Burma (WLB), the Vimutti Women's Organization (VWO) On June 19th, U Kyaw Soe Win, AAPP-MHAP and Asia Justice And Rights (AJAR) held the Chief, Ma Than Than Htay, supervisor of MHAP, International Day in Support of Victims of Torture in and three counselors visited Kyaik Wine Vocational Rangoon. Daw Hin Pan Eain was a master of Training School for Disabled Adults (Yangon). ceremony and Daw Khin Mi Mi Khine from VWO Then, U Kyaw Soe Win presented disabled adults delivered an opening speech. Then, AAPP Secretary from Kyaik Wine Vocational Training School for U Tate Naing delivered an opening speech. Then, Ko Disabled Adults (Yangon) about the Mental Health Zaw Moe from AAPP discussed torture and Assistance Program (MHAP). Then, the supervisor UNCAT. According to Penal Discussion, U Thwin and counselors collected a list of people who are Linn Aung was a moderator and AAPP-MHAP chief interested in receiving mental health counseling Kyaw Soe Win, Naung Moh Moh from WLB and services. lawyer Khin Khin Kyaw were panelists.

Figure 10 Attending International Day in Support of Victims of Torture Figure 12 Presentation at Vocational Training School for Disabled Adults

TRAINING political prisoners, their family members and other vulnerable populations in Bago area.

Mental Health Awareness and Self-care Training AAPP-MHAP Mandalay team counselors are also providing CETA mental health counseling services On June 18, Ko Htin Aung, trainer of MHAP for former political prisoners and their family provided mental health awareness and self-care members, other vulnerable population in Mandalay training to 24 participants of AAPP’s Basic Human area. Rights, Human Rights Documentation and Transitional Justice (Advance) Training which was AAPP-MHAP Mae Sot team provided CETA held in Pyin Oo Lwin Township in Mandalay mental health counseling services for the migrant Division. population, the victims of human trafficking, sex workers and victims of civil war in Myanmar. In June, three female clients and two male clients completed their counseling sessions, and 13 female clients and nine male clients are receiving counseling.

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Assistance Association for Political Prisoners

Tate Naing (Secretary) +95(0) 9428 023 Figure 13 Self Care training in Pyin Oo Lwin 828

Counseling Bo Kyi (Joint Secretary) +66(0) 819628713 In June, three counselors visited Women Vocational Aung Myo Kyaw (In-Charge Office Rangoon) Training Center in Yangon on every Saturday and +95(0) 9428117348 Sunday. Three clients completed their counseling sessions and six clients are receiving their treatment. A counselor visited Women Development Center in Yangon on every Saturday in June, two clients are receiving counseling. One supervisor and five counselors visited Hgnet Aw Sann Youth Training Center (Juvenile prison) on every Monday. In June 2019, 17 clients were completed their counseling sessions and 18 clients are receiving their treatment. Six female counselors and two male counselors are providing counseling to 16 trainees of Disable Adult Vocational Training Center in Yangon. In June 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. A counselor from Bago Region is also providing CETA mental health counseling services for former