Annual Report 2012–2013 Economic and social rights In early 2012 the APF, in partnership with the Center for Economic and Social Rights, requested APF member institutions to express their interest in participating in two pilot projects to build the capacity of NHRIs to monitor and promote economic, social and cultural rights. A wide range of proposals were received. The two winning bids selected were from the New Zealand Human Rights Commission, dealing with earthquake recovery efforts, and the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia, dealing with children with learning disabilities in the education system. A training program was run for one week each with the New Zealand Commission from 23–27 July 2012 and the Malaysian Commission from 10–14 December 2012. The training program, developed by the Center, introduced participants to a simple, four-step framework – the OPERA framework2 – to assess the adequacy of public policies in realising economic, social and cultural rights, such as the right to health, housing, education and an adequate standard of living. In addition, the program trained Commissioners and staff in the monitoring tools and techniques that underpin the framework. Following the workshops, the Center and the APF provided a minimum of six months of targeted support and consultation to the Commissions during the implementation and monitoring stages of each project. For example, the APF and the Center returned to Malaysia from 22–25 April 2013, to work with the Malaysian Commission, government and community stakeholders in the holding of additional training and a roundtable on children with learning disabilities in the education system. The New Zealand Human Rights Commission used the framework to guide its contribution to the Canterbury region earthquake recovery program, particularly in relation to issues around the right to housing and rebuilding the city of Christchurch as the world’s most accessible city. The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia used the framework to enhance its data collection techniques in monitoring Malaysia’s progress towards providing universal primary education, with a specific focus on access to quality and inclusive education for children with learning disabilities. The pilot program was developed following an APF training needs assessment in 2010, in which APF member institutions expressed a strong need for additional support on human rights monitoring and on economic, social and cultural rights. Staff from both institutions which piloted the training completed a self-assessment and evaluation of the training workshops. The self-assessment results clearly indicate participants’ increased confidence in applying knowledge and skills related to monitoring economic, social and cultural rights. The evaluation scores also confirmed a high rating of the workshops overall. Once the lessons learned from these pilot projects are examined and a regional training course developed, it is hoped that NHRIs will be better able to prepare strong and rigorous reports on their government’s performance in meeting international commitments on economic, social and cultural rights. The training will seek to equip them with data analysis tools to constructively engage with key decision-makers in order to have an impact on discussions around the development and monitoring of public policies. Mongolia, business and human rights The APF co-partnered with the National Human Rights Commission of Mongolia on a three-day conference, held in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia from 10-12 October 2012. The conference brought together representatives from the Mongolian Government, the mining industry, civil society groups and international human rights and development organisations. The conference examined the human rights impacts of the country’s booming mining sector and looked at international best practice in order to better protect the environment and the rights of affected communities. The conference specifically looked at the impact of mining on vulnerable communities and the environment, including soil erosion, degradation of pastoral land, water shortages and pollution. 2 The OPERA framework refers to outcomes, policy efforts, resources and assessment. 1. Enhance members’ institutional capacity to promote and protect human rights | 21