Part II NHRIs in action NHRIs can undertake a range of education, capacity building, advocacy and other programmes with NGOs working with and on behalf of migrant workers, including migrant organizations and associations of migrant workers. The Kandy Declaration and Program of Action162 provides a detailed framework for partnerships and collaboration between NHRIs and NGOs in the Asia Pacific region. NHRIs should also seek to also develop constructive partnerships with other stakeholders who can take action to address the human rights issues facing migrant workers, including the Government, the parliament, the judiciary, public and private sector employers, trade unions, professional associations, legal aid services, social service providers, consulates, the media and others. Migrant workers can experience human rights violations at all stages of their journey – prior to departure, in transit, in their country of destination and on return home. In many cases, their pre-departure experiences can leave them vulnerable to exploitation and abuse when they arrive in another country. Given the transnational dimension of these issues, NHRIs should seek to develop cooperative relationships with stakeholders, especially NHRIs, in other labour-sending and labour-receiving countries to undertake research, share information and exchange expertise. These relationships can be formalised through Memoranda of Understanding, which set out broad areas of cooperation and institutional exchange, or they can involve cooperation to address specific and urgent instances of human rights violations. Some NHRIs in the Asia Pacific have designated one or more staff members within their institution to act as “focal points” on the rights of migrant workers. At a regional level, through the coordination of the APF, “focal point” officers exchange information and expertise on good practices of NHRIs in promoting and protecting the rights of migrant workers. Their valuable contributions have directly informed the development of this manual. 162 The Kandy Declaration and Program of Action was adopted in July 1999 at the conclusion of the Workshop on National Institutions and Non-Governmental Organisations: Working in Partnership, held in Kandy, Sri Lanka; see: www.asiapacificforum.net/workingwith-others/ngos. 65