Promoting gender equality 3 8 Across the region and around the globe, women and girls continue to face entrenched discrimination and grievous violations of their fundamental rights. very high high medium low very low no response ANNUAL MEMBER SURVEY 2018: VALUE TO MEMBERS OF PROMOTING GENDER EQUALITY We also encourage our members to advance gender equality within their NHRIs, through the decisions they take in relation to staffing and their employment policies and practices. The APF Gender Strategy, adopted this year, supports our members to achieve these goals. We also work directly with members to help them identify practical measures they can take to advance gender equality. We have also begun updating our training resources to include a specific focus on gender. Following an APF workshop with junior and senior staff in November 2017, the National Human Rights Commission of India established a separate space for female staff and now extends maternity benefits to its contractual staff. The Commission has also provided female staff members with training on conducting investigations, as a follow-up to the APF course on facilitation and adult learning. Representatives from the NHRIs of Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Oman, Palestine and Qatar met in February 2018 to discuss the pressing issues facing women and girls in West Asia. Taking part in a two-day APF roundtable discussion, they also identified practical projects that their NHRIs could implement to assist those groups of women and girls most vulnerable to abuse, discrimination and exploitation. IN 2017–18, 12% OF THE APF BUDGET WENT TOWARDS ACTIVITIES THAT PROMOTE GENDER EQUALITY. 12 ASIA PACIFIC FORUM OF NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS INSTITUTIONS 4 8 That’s why it is critical that the APF equips our members to champion the rights of women and girls in all aspects of their work. A commitment to gender equality makes NHRIs more accessible by ensuring that women and girls who have experienced human rights violations can get the support they need, in a safe environment. 1 WHAT WE ACHIEVED IN 2017–18 • Supported APF members in their efforts to promote and protect the rights of women and girls • Began updating all APF training resources to ensure there is a clear and practical focus on gender