Advancing human rights together Promoting partnerships across the region Many of the most pressing human rights issues in our region today cross national borders: for example, empowering communities to take action on the impacts of climate change, environmental damage and biodiversity loss; ensuring safe pathways for migrants and migrant workers; breaking the criminal trade in human lives; and promoting fairness for all in the operations of business. Unlike Africa, the Americas and Europe, there is no region-wide human rights protection system in the Asia Pacific – such as a court, commission or treaties – to address these issues in a comprehensive manner. This makes it even more important that there is strong and strategic engagement between all institutions that have a responsibility to develop policies or take action to protect and promote human rights. Advancing human rights together To be treated fairly and with respect. To live free from violence and discrimination. To have opportunities and make choices in life. To be part of a community that is just and inclusive. NHRIs: Upholding human rights at the national level NHRIs are established by law, or in the national constitution, with powers to promote and protect human rights. Independent from government, they are uniquely positioned to drive change by: ■ Monitoring the human rights situation in the country and making their findings available to the public ■ Providing advice to government so that laws and policies reflect national and international human rights standards ■ Investigating and resolving complaints so that victims of human rights violations can seek redress ■ Delivering human rights education programs that help change attitudes and behaviour. Our project will involve representatives from the NHRIs of Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand and Timor-Leste in South-East Asia, and Australia, Fiji, New Zealand, Samoa and Tuvalu in the Pacific. This vision for human rights is deeply held by people from all countries across the Asia Pacific. And it is one that many institutions and organisations – at the community, national and regional levels – are committed to realising. Our goal is to bring together two powerful agents for change in the Asia Pacific: national human rights institutions (NHRIs) and regional inter-governmental mechanisms. By establishing regular platforms for dialogue, they will have new opportunities to share their human rights “… NHRIs play a key role in climate mitigation and adaptation by educating expertise and develop strategies that improve people’s lives and build strong, resilient communities. the public about the human rights impacts of environmental harms; monitoring these impacts; and advising governments to adopt human rights- Dialogue for change We will assist NHRIs in South-East Asia and the Pacific to engage with their respective inter-governmental mechanisms: the Association of South-East Asian Nations and its human rights institutions, and the Pacific based environmental policies. They can also handle complaints and promote accountability, at a national level and through regional and universal human rights mechanisms.” Islands Forum. We will bring together representatives of these groups for roundtable discussions on environmental rights and Michelle Bachelet climate change issues facing communities in their sub-regions. We will identify good practice and promote UN High Commissioner for Human Rights evidence-based human rights policies. We will also convene blended learning programs for NHRIs, host online communities of practice and provide small grants to support targeted national projects. 2 3