NHRIs ARE DRIVERS OF CHANGE NHRIs are established by law with powers to promote and protect human rights. Importantly, they operate independently from government. This means they are uniquely positioned to make change happen by: South Korea Philippines • Monitoring the human rights situation in the country and making their findings available to the public in order to raise awareness of human rights abuses, to publically hold perpetrators to account, and to protect and uphold the rights of vulnerable peoples • Providing advice to government so that laws and policies reflect and comply with fundamental national and international human rights standards • Receiving, investigating and resolving complaints so that victims of human rights violations can be heard, have a means of seeking redress and can be protected against further abuse • Delivering human rights education programs that help change attitudes and behaviour on the part of institutions, law enforcement agencies and the community, particularly in relation to the use of violence and torture, and the treatment of marginalised and discriminated persons • Engaging with the international human rights community to raise pressing issues and advocate for recommendations that make a difference back home. Timor Leste Samoa Fiji National human rights institutions are independent of government and they become, in a sense, the conscience of the country. PROFESSOR GILLIAN TRIGGS PRESIDENT AUSTRALIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION (2012–2017) Australia New Zealand Full Members of the APF Associate Members of the APF New NHRIs (not currently accredited with GANHRI) The depiction and use of boundaries, geographic names and related data shown on this map are not warranted to be error free nor do they necessarily imply official endorsement or acceptance by the APF ANNUAL REPORT 2016–17 3