APF member Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch report findings (2024) Women from disadvantaged social groups, particularly Dalits are at heightened at risk of sexual violence and face greater barriers to justice. Court rulings in Nepal give greater recognition to the rights of same-sex couples and/or transgender people. The marriage of an LGBTI couple was registered for the first time. In principle, transgender people can change their legal gender through a self-declaration process, but the gender markers are limited to a third, “other” category, and in the absence of an official protocol, transgender people often face demands for medical verification, which can be abusive. New Zealand Both Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch 2024 reports are silent on gender quality and rights. Oman Oman took no concrete steps towards protecting women and girls from gender based violence or ending gender-based discrimination. Although the law states that all citizens are equal and bans gender-based discrimination, women face discrimination under the law in matters of divorce, child custody and legal guardianship. Pakistan Violence against women and girls—including rape, murder, acid attacks, domestic violence, denial of education, sexual harassment at work, and child and forced marriage—is a serious problem throughout Pakistan. Human rights defenders estimate that roughly 1,000 women are murdered in so-called “honour killings” every year. Despite the government’s pledge during its fourth UPR review to enact the Domestic Violence (Prevention and Protection) Bill 2021, it had yet to make any concrete efforts to do so. UNICEF estimates that 18.9 million girls in Pakistan are married before the age of 18 and 4.6 million before 15. Women from religious minority communities are particularly vulnerable to forced marriage. Same-sex sexual conduct between men is a criminal offense. In May 2023, the Federal Shariat Court ruled that provisions of the Transgender Act 2018 relating the right to being legally recognized by their self-perceived gender identity and the right of inheritance for transgender people were “unIslamic.” An appeal is pending. Palestine Both Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch 2024 reports are silent on gender specific matters. Philippines Both Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch 2024 reports are silent on gender specific matters. In May 2023, the House of Representatives’ Committee on Women and Gender Equality approved a bill to protect people from discrimination based on their sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, and sex characteristics. The bill needs approval by both the House of Gender Baseline Assessment of NHRIs in the Asia Pacific region – July 2024 46