Asia Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institutions The APF is currently considering how to address the issue of the accessibility of its training courses and language in the development of its 2015–2020 Strategic Plan. To this end the APF has integrated a training needs analysis into the strategic planning process. Figure 1: Percentage of member staff with sufficient English language skills to use APF training 100% 80% 60% 40% 20% 0 West Asia North Asia South Asia Southeast Asia Pacific In line with best practice adult education approaches, APF training is contextualised to the operational requirements of the participating NHRIs through the use of work-based projects. Only one member indicated that their institution did not incorporate action plans developed in training into their planning. When asked to rate the relevance of the specific action plans, members indicated that the action plans developed during the South Asian media and communications training, held in the Maldives in April 2014 were very relevant (median rating of 4.5 out of 5). Members identified quite a number of projects that had benefited from this training approach, including: • the conduct of a national inquiry on rape and honour killing by the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission • the development of a work plan for the betterment of migrant workers by the National Human Rights Commission of Bangladesh and improvements to complaints handling from migrant workers by the Jordan National Centre for Human Rights • a project on access to education for children with learning disabilities by the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia and a National Inquiry on the same topic by the Human Rights Commission of the Maldives • formulation of an action plan in the conduct of a national Inquiry on the rights to health and education of Indigenous peoples by the Philippines Commission on Human Rights, and • the creation of an effective media strategy by the Provedor for Human Rights and Justice of Timor-Leste. Further details of the APF’s training activities are set out below. Blended learning Since 2009, the APF has delivered its core training programs online as an integral part of its training strategy. The courses use a blended learning approach, which includes an introductory online program, usually run over five to six weeks, followed by a face-to-face workshop for participants who successfully complete the online component. 8