ANNUAL REPORT 2014–2015 Building stronger national human rights institutions VALUE TO MEMBERS OF BUILDING STRONGER NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS INSTITUTIONS very high high 1 6 Source: APF Member Survey 2015 Independent and effective NHRIs can be powerful agents for change. They can use their complaint handling, investigation, advisory and education functions to promote and protect the rights of all people, especially vulnerable groups, as well as engage with the international human rights system to draw attention to pressing issues. Many of the APF’s activities are directed towards supporting our members to do this work as effectively as possible, by providing: • Capacity assessments that enable our members to identify achievable steps to strengthen their institutions • Training programs to build knowledge and skills that are central to the work of effective institutions • Specialist programs tailored to the needs of individual members. Of all our functions, our work to build stronger NHRIs is rated the most highly by our members. 1. Strengthening the capacity of our members The Capacity Assessment Program is an APF initiative to build strong and effective national human rights institutions in the Asia Pacific region. 15 medium low very low no response It is a forward-looking process that identifies strategies to bolster the capacity of the NHRI in the following five-year period. Run in partnership with the UNDP and OHCHR, 17 APF members have undertaken a capacity assessment since the program was first run in 2008, including the Provedoria for Human Rights and Justice in Timor Leste in January 2015. Each capacity assessment is based on a selfassessment process that draws on the expertise and insights of those working within the NHRI, including Commissioners and all staff. There is a particular focus to ensure that the perspectives of female Commissioners and staff are captured and presented in the final report. The report of the capacity assessment proposes strategies to strengthen the NHRI as a whole, to develop the capacities of staff individually and collectively, and to make the internal processes of the NHRI more effective and efficient. The report is a confidential document, owned by the NHRI, although the NHRI is encouraged to share the report or a summary with key stakeholders, including those who contributed to the capacity assessment process. It includes recommendations for capacity development initiatives that are strategic, long-term and integrated. The goal is to support our member institutions to identify the capacities they have and those they need to strengthen in order to fulfil their mandate to promote and protect rights at the national level. 11