2.2 Bridge to grassroots organisations and HRDs Some regional CSOs have members and partners across the region and work closely with grassroots organisations in different countries. They can act as a bridge between NHRIs and HRDs on the ground. The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) is in close and regular contact with defenders from across the Asia Pacific region. Thanks to a trusted relationship built with defenders, as well as its advocacy on NHRIs, it is well-placed to act as a bridge between HRDs and NHRIs for what concerns the support and protection of defenders. 2.3 Emergency assistance for HRDs at risk Regional and international CSOs can play a role in responding to emergency situations, providing assistance to HRDs at risk. They can help connect with established programmes and emergency funds for HRD protection, as well as other regional/international actors who can provide support. Some regional and international CSOs have their own protection programmes, like FORUM-ASIA’s Protection Plan, which supports temporary relocation and other types of urgent assistance. 2.4 Meaningful participation of HRDs Alongside HRDs in their own countries, engaging with regional CSOs is a way for NHRIs to foster trust and meaningful participation in processes for HRD support and protection. This embodies the human rights principles of participation and inclusion: making sure that those whose rights are at stake are actively involved, ensuring that actions taken are relevant to their experiences and effective in addressing the challenges they are facing on the ground. 2.5 Strengthening NHRI mandates for HRD protection NHRIs may undertake advocacy towards government and lawmakers to strengthen the enabling laws for their institutions, as well as to develop HRD-centric protection measures, so they can better protect human rights including those of HRDs. Regional and international CSOs can help with technical law proposals as well as making recommendations towards decision-makers. The Asian NGOs Network on National Human Rights Institutions (ANNI) focuses on strengthening the work and functioning of Asian NHRIs to protect and promote human rights, including HRD rights, and on advocating for the improved compliance of Asian NHRIs with international standards (the Paris Principles). Since its inception, it has accumulated substantial knowledge on NHRI accreditation and publishes the ANNI Report, a biennial report on the performance and establishment of NHRIs in Asia, with specific recommendations. 2.6 Data collection and analysis on violations Some regional CSOs monitor HRDs’ rights and have an overview of the latest trends and challenges in the region, as well as in specific countries. Some publish data and analysis on human rights violations against HRDs, which could be useful for NHRI’s work. In collaboration with the Danish Institute for Human Rights, the APF Secretariat is rolling out the Right to Defend Rights Tool (R2DRT) initiative in 2024. The R2DRT initiative complements NHRIs’ national actions of monitoring and reporting on the situation of HRDs in their country. The Asian HRD Portal is an online platform managed by FORUM-ASIA containing useful materials for Asian defenders. It features a database that gathers all the violations against HRDs in different countries documented by FORUM-ASIA. FORUM-ASIA also publishes Defending in Numbers (DiN), a biennial report on HRD rights in the region. 12 Engaging with Regional and International Actors Toolkit