President of East Timor Jose Ramos-Horta will join former colleagues from UNSW next week (Monday 27 July) to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Diplomacy Training Program (DTP).
President of East Timor and Nobel Peace Laureate Jose Ramos-Horta will join Chancellor David Gonski and former colleagues from the University of New South Wales next week (Monday 27 July) to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Diplomacy Training Program (DTP).
The DTP was founded by Dr Ramos-Horta in 1989 and works to develop the knowledge, skills and effectiveness of human rights defenders and community advocates from the Asia-Pacific. It was established based on Dr Ramos-Horta's own experience seeking international support for East Timor's struggle for independence. More than 1,400 participants from over 30 countries have graduated from the program.
The DTP's 20th anniversary celebrations start at 11.30am on Monday 27 July at the Faculty of Law at UNSW, with Dr Ramos-Horta to deliver a public lecture at 1pm.
Dr Ramos-Horta will attend fresh from the Melbourne launch of Balibo, a film about the murder of five Australia-based journalists during Indonesia's invasion of East Timor in 1975. The film is partially told through the eyes of a young Ramos-Horta.
Now as President of an independent East Timor, Dr Ramos-Horta continues to support the training of human rights defenders as DTP Patron.
DTP Executive Director, Patrick Earle said: "One of the unsung achievements of this Nobel Peace Laureate is the practical support he has offered through the DTP to more than a thousand human rights defenders in the region - including people who face similar challenges to those he faced before the East Timorese won their independence.
"That's more than a thousand people working to promote human rights and to resolve conflict through peaceful dialogue," Mr Earle said.
What: DTP 20th anniversary celebrations and public lecture by East Timor's President and Nobel Peace Laureate, Dr Jose Ramos-Horta.When: Public Lecture 1-2pm, Monday 27 July Where: Law Lecture Theatre, Law building, UNSW Kensington CampusTo register click here
Graduates of the DTP are available for interview. For more information on the DTP visit the website
Media contact: Steve Offner | 02 9385 8107 | s.offner@unsw.edu.au