ASIA PACIFIC FORUM OF NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS INSTITUTIONS NGOs are the main supporters of the Commission in promoting and protecting human rights … A way of ensuring pluralism in the Commission, specified in the founding legislation of the Commission, is through an Advisory Board composed of NGOs, scholars, lecturers and other stakeholders that work in the field of human rights. In addition, the Commission conducts joint studies based on an agreement or contract with research institutions and independent researchers. NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION OF MONGOLIA SOURCE: ICC REACCREDITATION SUBMISSION, 2014 In February 2015, the Constitutional Drafting Committee established by the Thai military government stated that it proposed to merge the National Human Rights Commission of Thailand with the Office of the Ombudsman. The Commission opposed the planned merger and stated that combining the two organisations might signify that a reduced priority will be given to the promotion and protection of human rights in the country. In February 2015, with the support of the Commission, the APF wrote to the Constitutional Drafting Committee to express concern about the proposal and highlight the very different roles and functions of an NHRI and an Ombudsman. The APF offered support to the Committee, including the provision of advice. The offer of support was not accepted at that time but the APF stands ready to provide advice on the international standards relevant to the establishment and functioning of national human rights institutions, including their accreditation at the international level. The Australian Human Rights Commission and, in particular, its President, sustained ongoing criticism following the release in February 2015 of its report documenting the violation of the rights of children in Australia’s immigration detention centres. The scale and intensity of this criticism are unprecedented in Australia and have come from the highest levels of government, including the Prime Minister, the Attorney-General and the Minister for Immigration. This sustained criticism undermines the integrity, impartiality and judgement of the President in the eyes of the Australian public. The APF has worked with the international community, including the ICC, OHCHR and the International Service for Human Rights, to support the Commission. We also maintained close personal contact with the Commission and its President. 30 In September 2014, the UN Human Rights Council adopted a resolution on NHRIs which stressed that NHRIs “should not face any form of reprisal or intimidation … as a result of activities undertaken in accordance with their respective mandates”, including their engagement with the international human rights system. The resolution was co-sponsored by 76 States, including Australia, the Maldives and Thailand. The APF will continue to work with our members, the international community and other partners to remind governments of the content and spirit of this resolution. 4. Cooperating with civil society During the year, the APF continued to constructively engage with the Asian NGO Network on National Human Rights Institutions (ANNI), a regional peak NGO relating to NHRIs. ANNI was invited to APF Annual Meeting in September 2014 to participate in a Forum CouncillorsNGO/ANNI dialogue to discuss the practical ways in which they can engage cooperate on the APF’s new five-year strategic plan. ANNI/Forum Asia wrote to the APF to express its appreciation for its measures to improve collaboration. The APF also attends ANNI meetings, as it did in April 2015 in Taiwan. Promoting engagement with civil society is also a feature of the APF’s Capacity Assessment program. Of the 11 members to report on implementation of their capacity assessment, eight had received recommendations specifically on civil society engagement. Their reports indicate that implementation of these recommendations is either completed or in progress.