Asia Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institutions These assessments were valuable learning experiences that helped in developing a model methodology suitable for NHRIs generally. THE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION OF MALAYSIA (SUHAKAM), DECEMBER 2008 – FEBRUARY 2009 The first CA for NHRIs under the CAP was conducted for SUHAKAM from December 2008 to February 2009. The CA was divided into two substantive visits by the CA team: the first focused on staff in the Kuala Lumpur Office (head office) and the second engaged with staff in the regional offices and with external stakeholders. As the CA for SUHAKAM was the first pilot exercise for the CAP, there were a number of lessons learned. These included the need to ensure NHRI ownership throughout the process, the value of strengthening internal coordination with the NHRI leadership and staff, and the importance of providing sufficient time to inform and guide NHRI leaders and staff through the process. THE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION OF THE MALDIVES (HRCM), OCTOBER 2009 Following the CA of SUHAKAM, the next CA took place for the Human Rights Commission of the Maldives. The methodology was adapted to incorporate the lessons learned in the SUHAKAM CA. An officer of SUHAKAM joined the CA team in the Maldives to promote country experience sharing and to provide a step-by-step learning opportunity to SUHAKAM on how to conduct a full scaled CA. It commenced the practice of always including in the CA team a senior officer of an NHRI that has previously conducted a CA. The findings and the recommendations of the CA report were submitted by the CAP partners during the HRCM’s Strategic Plan (2010–2014) drafting process. This ensured that the findings and recommendations were practically incorporated into the Strategic Plan, in particular those recommendations relating to complaints handling, investigations and monitoring. The UN programme supporting the capacity development of the HRCM was developed drawing on the recommendations of the CA. Following these first two CAs, the CAP partners engaged with other APF members and, in two cases, NHRIs aspiring to membership. In all, by August 2019, 24 CAs of Asia Pacific NHRIs had been undertaken: • • • • • • • • • • • • 6 Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM) 2008–09 Human Rights Commission of the Maldives 2009 Jordan National Centre for Human Rights 2010 National Human Rights Commission of Thailand 2010 Palestinian Independent Human Rights Commission 2011 Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission 2011 Mongolian Human Rights Commission 2011 Sri Lankan Human Rights Commission 2012 Australian Human Rights Commission 2012 New Zealand Human Rights Commission 2012 Philippines Commission on Human Rights 2012 Nepal National Human Rights Commission 2013