Examples of regional CSOs and HRD Networks • By The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) is a network of 85 member organisations across 23 countries, mainly in Asia. It is the largest Asian-based regional NGO working with HRDs, and the only regional organisation working on NHRI advocacy, • The Asian NGOs Network on National Human Rights Institutions (ANNI), a network of Asian NGOs and HRDs working on issues related to NHRIs, was established in 2006. Examples of international CSOs and HRD Networks There are also international NGOs present or active at the regional level in Asia-Pacific, which work to strengthen HRD rights and protection. These include: 2 • Front Line Defenders (frontlinedefenders.org) is an international human rights organisation founded in Dublin in 2001, with the specific aim of protecting human rights defenders at risk (HRDs). • Urgent Action Fund Asia & the Pacific (www.uafanp.org) supports the resilience and resistance of movements led by women and non-binary activists in Asia and the Pacific by co-creating a safe environment for them to sustain their work and thrive. • Freedom House (freedomhouse.org) is “the leading American organization devoted to the support and defense of democracy around the world”. • FIDH (International Federation for Human Rights) (www.fidh.org) is an international human rights NGO federating 188 organisations from 116 countries. Since 1922, FIDH has been defending all civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights as set out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. • The International Service for Human Rights (ISHR) (ishr.ch) is an independent, non-profit organisation promoting and protecting human rights, with offices in Geneva, New York and a permanent presence in Cote d’Ivoire. ISHR’s mission is to support human rights defenders, strengthen human rights systems, as well as lead and participate in coalitions for human rights change. Why engage with regional CSOs to protect and promote HRD rights? Building constructive relationships and engagement with CSOs, including regional CSOs, can be an important way for NHRIs to further protection for HRDs, as well as to strengthen their own mandates for human right protection. Some potential benefits of NHRIs engaging with regional CSOs include: 2.1 Expertise and regional knowledge Regional civil society organizations possess expertise in HRD rights, legal standards, and policy development related to HRDs, as well as a deep understanding of the on-the-ground realities in various countries, making them valuable partners in supporting the work of NHRIs in this domain. Example: Komnas HAM engagement with CSOs on HRD rights Komnas HAM, the Indonesian NHRI, invited CSOs to provide inputs when it was developing Standard Norms and Procedures (SNP) on HRDs. Engaging with Regional and International Actors Toolkit 11