SUPPORTING OUR MEMBERS DURING COVID-19 In 2019–2020, the APF delivered a broad range of professional training and networking programs involving more than 130 Commissioners and staff from 30 NHRIs2 in the Asia Pacific. In August 2019, we provided support to the Myanmar National Human Rights Commission as it finalised its four-year strategic plan. In the same month, we hosted a meeting of the APF Communications Network. We also conducted workshops for APF members on promoting human rights in humanitarian action (in partnership with OHCHR) and on environmental rights (in partnership with the Raoul Wallenberg Institute of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law). In January 2020, representatives from 11 NHRIs in the Asia Pacific region – including Kuwait and Uzbekistan – attended a three-day workshop to deepen their understanding of the international accreditation process and the requirements for NHRIs. When COVID-related travel restrictions came into force from March 2020, some planned APF programs were either postponed or delivered solely online, such as our training program on gender mainstreaming. We also established the Leadership Solidarity Outreach program in order to stay connected with our members and identify practical ways the APF can support them in their efforts to uphold human rights during the COVID-19 pandemic. Discussions on gender equality and promoting the rights of women and girls are incorporated into all of the APF’s capacity development activities. PARLIAMENTARIANS PLEDGE BACKING FOR HUMAN RIGHTS Meeting together in November 2019, legislators from across the Pacific have endorsed the important role of NHRIs helping build strong, fair and just communities. Parliamentarians from the Cook Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, Samoa, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu and Vanuatu also reflected on the practical measures they can take to strengthen human rights protections as elected officials. Discussions during the three-day dialogue considered their role to scrutinise legislation that comes before parliament, allocate sufficient budget for human rights activities, be advocates for human rights in their communities and contribute to UN treaty body reporting processes. The APF co-facilitated the workshop, which was organised by RRRT. 1 Preliminary meetings were held in October 2019 to conduct a capacity assessment with the Iraqi High Commission for Human Rights. However, political instability and COVID-19 restrictions meant the program had to be postponed. 2 Includes all 25 APF members plus the NHRIs of Fiji, Pakistan, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu and Uzbekistan. ANNUAL REPORT 2019–20 11