Australian Human Rights Commission Annual Report 2021–22 anti-racism. Three formal meetings were held, with additional correspondence with specific members on relevant issues. The Tool was launched in July 2022 and further feedback and outcome of the tool will be reported next financial year. Australia-Lao PDR Human Rights Technical Cooperation Program (HRTCP) The long-term goal of the program was to contribute to enhancing the promotion and protection of human rights in the Lao Peoples Democratic Republic (PDR). It provides practical and technical support to the Government of the Lao PDR (GoL) officials to meet United Nations reporting obligations and enhances whole-ofgovernment engagement on the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. It also seeks to enhance dialogue between the GoL and Australia on human rights, by sharing experiences between Australia and the Lao PDR and providing education and capacity building opportunities for Lao Government officials and staff and students from the National University of Laos (NUoL). This is the fifth and final year of the HRTCP and it saw the successful implementation of a series of activities. Although COVID-19 continued to present significant challenges to implementation during the 2021–22 year, the HRTCP benefited from adopting of new ways of working and remaining flexible. Case Study 1 Disability Rights Workshop for Government of Lao PDR Officials This two-day workshop was attended by approximately 64 GoL officials, the majority of whom were the human rights focal points in their own agencies. The objective was to build the knowledge and technical capacity of the human rights focal points to represent the rights and interests of people with disability (PWD). The two-day program exposed the participants to various topics including core CRPD principles, progress and challenges in promoting and protecting the rights of PWD in Laos, the role of DPOs in advancing the rights of PWD, and the implementation of the Covenant on the Rights for People with Disability (CRPD) in Australia. Participants gained new knowledge, increased awareness and improved capacity to advocate for PWD in policy and practice within their agencies. Participants also gained a greater understanding of the CRPD and its guiding principles. They exchanged information and knowledge regarding progress, achievements and challenges in incorporating the rights of PWD in the development of polices and service delivery at a national level. 58