Annual Report 2012–2013 UN General Assembly In February 2012, the UN General Assembly launched an open-ended intergovernmental process to strengthen and enhance the human rights treaty body system. The General Assembly’s process builds on a two-year multi-stakeholder process led by OHCHR, to which the APF contributed. In recognition of the contribution that NHRIs have made to the treaty body strengthening project, the General Assembly has taken the positive step of providing for arrangements to be made to enable its process to benefit from the input and expertise of NHRIs. In July 2012, the APF met with the two co-facilitators of this process, the Ambassadors of Iceland and Indonesia, to discuss the views of NHRIs and their input into the review. The APF also met with the (then) President of the General Assembly and a range of Ambassadors to progress the Human Rights Council’s resolution calling on Paris Principles-compliant NHRIs to be provided with an equivalent access to the General Assembly and its mechanisms as now exists in the Human Rights Council in Geneva. UN Commission on the Status of Women During the reporting period, the APF concluded a five-year advocacy campaign at the CSW, having garnered increased recognition for the role they play in promoting and protecting the rights of women and girls. The APF attended the 57th Session of the CSW, held in New York from 4–15 March 2013, leading a delegation of NHRIs from Australia, India, Jordan, the Republic of Korea, the Philippines, Mexico and Morocco. The priority theme of the CSW’s discussion was the elimination and prevention of all forms of violence against women and girls. Since 2008, a growing number of NHRIs have attended the annual meeting of the global policy-making body on women’s rights, building strong relationships with government delegations, UN agencies, diplomatic missions and NGOs. They have also hosted and participated in a range of side events during the CSW sessions, highlighting the practical work they do to promote gender equality at the national level and the unique contribution they make to the international human rights system. A key goal of the campaign was to advocate for the independent participation of NHRIs in the annual meetings of the CSW, similar to the opportunities available to “A status” NHRIs to take part in discussions at the UN Human Rights Council. Currently, NHRIs may only participate in CSW meetings if they are invited to attend as part of their government’s delegation or if they seek accreditation through a participating NGO. Neither of these options appropriately recognises the independent role of NHRIs. The APF has coordinated the advocacy campaign on behalf of the ICC, which has resulted in: • significantly greater understanding of the role and functions of NHRIs among the government delegations that make up the CSW • the role of NHRIs being recognised by the CSW on each occasion it has adopted agreed conclusions at the end of its annual session (2009, 2011 and 2013). Prior to 2009, NHRIs had not been specifically mentioned in these statements • the Human Rights Council adopting a resolution in 2012 that recognised the contribution of NHRIs at the CSW and encouraged their ongoing advocacy for independent participation, and • the rights of women and girls gaining greater prominence within NHRIs around the globe, including through the decision of the ICC to dedicate its biennial conference in 2012 to the issue of women and girls’ human rights and gender equality. It also ensured that women and girls’ human rights will be a standing annual agenda item at ICC general meetings. The APF presented their concluding report on the CSW advocacy campaign to the ICC General Meeting in May 2013. The report also outlined the process and procedures for the ICC to apply for permanent observer status at the General Assembly and provide information on the review of the Economic and Social Council and the opportunities this may present. 4. Engage with international and regional human rights mechanisms | 43