Lachlan’s human rights journey with the Diplomacy Training Program

For UNSW Law & Justice Juris Doctor student Lachlan Wilkinson, a recent placement in Suva, Fiji was not just an internship, but a continuation of a story that began years earlier in Timor Leste.

Lachlan has just returned from a Diplomacy Training Program (DTP) placement supporting a regional short course on climate change, business and human rights. The Climate Change, Business and Human Rights Program brings together advocates from across the Pacific and West Papua to strengthen skills and collaboration in responding to the human rights impacts of climate change. Lachlan undertook the placement during his final term of study, supported by UNSW Law & Justice to participate in the program in person.

The opportunity built on a long-standing personal connection to both DTP and the Pacific. Lachlan’s interest in human rights law was shaped early through family ties to the program and visits to Timor-Leste as a teenager. His mother, Tracey Carpenter, previously participated in a DTP program there as a trainer, introducing Lachlan to DTP’s work from a young age.

Those early experiences left a lasting impression. In 2011 and 2012, Lachlan saw firsthand the enduring impacts of conflict and the role of international human rights advocacy, experiences that were reinforced when he met Timor-Leste President and DTP co-founder José Ramos-Horta, who later encouraged him to study law.

From classroom to regional advocacy

“When I was applying for internships in my final trimester, I saw DTP were taking applications and jumped at the opportunity,” Lachlan said. “I outlined my interests in human rights and environmental law, and when the possibility of working on the Suva program came up, I was incredibly grateful to receive funding from UNSW to make it possible.”

During the placement, Lachlan assisted with the planning and delivery of the HRCCB program, working closely with DTP staff Lydia Ayto and Patrick Earle. His work spanned participant selection, logistics and budgeting, coordination with Pasifika Communities University, and contributing to the program’s final report.

A key academic contribution was authoring a paper for the participant workbook on the implications of the International Court of Justice’s Advisory Opinion on the Obligations of States in respect of Climate Change. The paper was developed with support from Maria Nawaz, Gillian Moon and Wes Morgan from the UNSW Australian Human Rights Institute’s Australian Climate Accountability Project.

“It was a privilege to contribute something practical that participants could use in their advocacy,” Lachlan said. “The legal analysis sat alongside very real, lived experiences of climate impacts across the region.”

Learning beyond the classroom

Days in Suva were full and intensive. Lachlan began each day with breakfast alongside participants before supporting long classroom sessions, where he took notes for the final report and assisted with logistics and troubleshooting. The program also included activities beyond the classroom, such as attending the UN Development Programme’s 40th anniversary celebration of the Declaration on the Right to Development, a visit to the Australian High Commission, and a screening of the documentary Pig Feast, which documents environmental destruction in West Papua linked to agribusiness development.

“One of the most inspiring parts of the experience was the resilience of the participants,” Lachlan said.

“Despite the severity of climate change impacts across the Pacific, there was no sense of defeat. The threats were real and often immediate, but people remained pragmatic and focused on advocacy. That stood in contrast to how climate change is sometimes avoided in Australia because of the anxiety it creates.”

While Lachlan has since accepted a role working for a State MP, the placement reinforced his intention to pursue legal admission and keep international human rights advocacy as a future pathway. The experience also helped him build connections with representatives from the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Suva and the UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Development, Professor Surya Deva.

“It was encouraging to hear that having a broad range of interests is actually a strength in this field,” Lachlan said. “This experience showed me there are many pathways into meaningful human rights work.”

Supporting students to make an impact

Dean of UNSW Law & Justice, Professor Andrew Lynch, said the Faculty is proud to support students to engage directly with regional and global justice challenges.

“Experiences like the Diplomacy Training Program placement allow our students to connect the dots between their legal education and real-world impact,” Professor Lynch said. “Working alongside advocates and communities in the region deepens students’ understanding of the role law can play in addressing global challenges such as climate change and human rights. We are proud to support opportunities that prepare our graduates to contribute thoughtfully and effectively, both locally and internationally.”

Reflecting on the experience, Lachlan encourages other students to consider similar opportunities during their studies.

“If you are interested in human rights law as a law student, it is an extremely uplifting experience,” he said. “The few months I’ve had with DTP have been very inspiring, which is so meaningful in a time when engaging in international law, human rights law and global affairs can feel distressing.”