Annual Report 2011–2012 1.4 Specialist capacity projects Within available resources, the APF responds to requests from individual member institutions for the delivery of specialist capacity projects. Malaysia strategic planning In November 2011 the APF facilitated a strategic planning process for the NHRI of Malaysia. The planning process involved the Chairperson, Commissioners, senior staff and external stakeholders. The plan was guided by an analysis of the key human rights issues in Malaysia, the ‘value added’ the Commission could bring to issues (given its powers and functions) and the overall resources of the Commission. Sri Lanka high-level dialogue During January 2012 the APF ran a high-level dialogue for the recently appointed Commissioners and senior staff of the NHRI of Sri Lanka. The dialogue addressed issues such as: • the role of NHRIs in addressing human rights violations • the independence of NHRIs and Commissioners • the relationship of NHRIs with parliament, executive and the judiciary • NHRIs contact with the public and media, and • processes to increase the capacity, effectiveness and efficiency of NHRIs. Kyrgyz Republic dialogue and election monitoring The Ombudsman of the Kyrgyz Republic invited the APF to attend a regional Central Asia meeting on NHRIs and to participate as a formal monitor of the Presidential elections. The Deputy Director of the APF secretariat and the Chief Commissioner of the NHRI of Mongolia participated on behalf of the APF. The Central Asia meeting was held from 27–29 October 2011. Issues discussed during the three-day program included: • protecting the rights of migrant workers • establishing national preventive mechanisms to prevent torture in places of detention, and • promoting respect and positive relations between ethnic communities. The conference provided an opportunity for representatives from NHRIs to share experiences and examples of good practice. Following the conference, the APF’s representatives joined the election monitoring teams observing the Kyrgyz Republic presidential elections, held on 30 October 2011. The APF’s participation follows the attendance of the Ombudsman of the Kyrgyz Republic at the APF’s 16th Annual Meeting and Biennial Conference in September 2011. Maldives emergency response visit At the formal request of the President of the NHRI of the Maldives, a three person APF delegation visited the Commission from 13–15 February 2012 during the constitutional crisis and associated violence. The purpose of the visit was to provide advice and support to the Commission about its role during the constitutional crisis. The APF team also met with the (then) Attorney-General and representatives of the police force. 1. Enhance members’ institutional capacity to promote and protect human rights | 19