About this Practical Guide The Asia Pacific region stands apart from its counterparts in Africa, the Americas, and Europe due to the absence of a region-wide human rights framework or enforcement structure, a result of its extensive cultural, ethnolinguistic, and geopolitical diversity. While some progress has been made in establishing human rights mechanisms within (sub)regional intergovernmental bodies, these efforts are limited in scope and lack the capacity to address individual complaints or issue binding decisions against member states. This institutional landscape presents significant challenges for human rights defenders (HRDs) and limits the possibilities for collective advocacy of the Asia Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institutions (APF) and its members at the regional level. Innovative measures are thus needed to promote and protect HRD rights in the region. In 2021, the APF adopted a Regional Action Plan on HRDs (RAP), demonstrating the collective commitment of the APF and its members to protect and promote the rights of human rights defenders (HRDs) in the Asia Pacific. The four-year plan outlines regional and national actions to recognize the dignity of defenders and strengthen respect for their rights. It also honors a key commitment under the “Marrakesh Declaration,” adopted at the 13th international conference of NHRIs in 2018: “Expanding the civic space and promoting and protecting HRDs, with a specific focus on women: The role of National Human Rights Institutions”. This practical guide has been developed to assist NHRIs in implementing Regional Action 2 of the RAP: “Engage with regional civil society actors and international partners.” It aims to support NHRIs in the Asia Pacific to strengthen their collaboration with regional civil society organizations and international actors working in their respective countries to advance HRD rights. Additionally, it explores ways in which NHRIs can engage with regional human rights systems in other regions, to offer insights for strengthening Asia Pacific’s own regional and subregional inter-governmental mechanisms to better safeguard HRD rights. Part A of the practical guide lays the groundwork by considering who are “human rights defenders” and the role of NHRIs in protecting and promoting their rights. Part B explores collaboration with regional civil society organizations to safeguard civic space and advance the rights of HRDs. Part C explores engagement with regional mechanisms, taking a look at other regional systems and the potential for engaging with inter-governmental bodies in Asia-Pacific. Lastly, Part D examines engagement with international actors to protect and promote the rights of HRDs. Each section includes links to relevant tools and resources. Engaging with Regional and International Actors Toolkit 5