Asia Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institutions 1.2. WHY MAINSTREAMING IS IMPORTANT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS WORK NHRIs are aware of the importance of making gender equality a primary goal in their work and of using the strategy of gender mainstreaming as well as gender specialisation as the most effective means of achieving this goal.4 Similarly, mainstreaming SOGISC work means considering how your work impacts on LGBTI people, as groups vulnerable to discrimination and marginalisation. It ensures that the specific experiences of LGBTI people are visible and incorporated into the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of an NHRI’s work. The ultimate goal of all forms of mainstreaming is to achieve equality. These guidelines focus on the generic or mainstream efforts that an NHRI can undertake as part of a ‘business as usual’ approach to LGBTI-inclusion. Such mainstreaming efforts complement but do not replace the need for targeted, specialised LGBTI policies and programmes, including affirmative action or special measures. Read more about balancing mainstreaming and specialisation strategies in Chapter 12 of APF’s manual on Promoting and Protecting the Human Rights of Women and Girls.5 1.3. WHAT DO THESE GUIDELINES INCLUDE? These mainstreaming guidelines provide a brief overview of some human rights issues for LGBTI people before focusing on how NHRIs are using their mandated functions to respond effectively. After touching on NHRIs’ internal work, most examples look at NHRIs’ external work protecting and promoting human rights. Topic APF manual This guide Terms and definitions Section 1.3 Section 1.1 Human rights issues for intersex people Chapter 4 Section 2.1 Human rights issues for transgender people Chapter 3 Section 2.2 Human rights issues for lesbian, gay and bisexual people Chapter 2 Section 2.3 Sections 8.1 – 8.2 Sections 3.1 – 3.4 • Advice Section 8.3 Section 4.1 • Education and awareness raising Section 8.4 Section 4.2 • Monitoring Section 8.5 Section 4.3 • Complaint handling Section 8.6 Section 4.4 • Court interventions and monitoring Section 8.7 Section 4.5 • Advocacy Section 8.8 Section 4.6 • Cooperation and engagement Section 8.9 Section 4.7 • National inquiries Section 8.10 Section 4.8 NHRIs’ internal work • Sensitisation training, strategic planning, employment, and recognition NHRIs’ external promotion and protection work Conclusion 6 Section 5