Promoting and Protecting the Rights of Migrant Workers The Role of National Human Rights Institutions Foreword National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) are uniquely placed to play an important role in the protection and promotion of the rights of migrant workers. The APF’s members have recognized the role they can play in this regard. Since the APF’s inaugural meeting in Darwin in 1996, APF Forum Councillors affirmed that NHRIs should “respond effectively and promptly to requests from other NHRIs to investigate violations of the human rights of their nationals present in a country that has a national institution”. That affirmation established the precedent for cross-border human rights cooperation amongst the APF membership in the broader area of migration. The APF Annual Meetings in Suva in 2006 and in Kuala Lumpur in 2008 culminated with APF members calling for greater consideration of the relevance of ILO conventions to the work of NHRIs and noting the importance of “regional standard setting on the human rights of migrants in irregular situations and migrant domestic workers.” This shifted the APF’s focus more specifically towards migrant workers. Consequently, since 2009, the APF has been collaborating with the Diplomacy Training Programme to provide training opportunities for staff from APF member institutions, with the aim of helping build NHRI capacity and encouraging greater collaboration in the promotion and protection of migrant workers’ rights. During the APF’s Annual Meeting in Bali in 2010, APF members took a decisive step towards regional standard setting in the area of migrant workers’ rights by calling for the designation of migrant workers’ rights focal point officers within APF member institutions. I am very pleased to note that many of these focal point officers contributed to the development of this manual, through sharing information regarding the experiences and work of their respective institutions. I trust this manual will be a useful resource for NHRIs in the Asia Pacific region, to support them in their vital work and to help further build their capacity to protect and promote the rights of migrant workers. Kieren Fitzpatrick Director Asia Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institutions iii