OBJECTIVE The APF Regional Action Plan on HRDs (the Action Plan) is designed to demonstrate the collective commitment of the APF and each of its members to the protection and promotion of HRDs in the Asia Pacific region. It contains a range of actions that the APF and its members will implement at a regional and national level over a four-year period to recognise the inherent dignity of defenders and strengthen respect for their rights. The Action Plan also honours a core commitment made by the APF and its members to implement the 2018 GANHRI Declaration on “Expanding the civic space and promoting and protecting human rights defenders, with a specific focus on women: The role of national human rights institutions” (the Marrakesh Declaration) in the Asia Pacific region. The Action Plan is not directed at governments, but rather is a collection of pledges by NHRIs that establish targets that will guide their activities with and for HRDs. To this end, the Action Plan is primarily a reference for APF member NHRIs to define and support their work, both individually and collectively. Additionally, the Action Plan provides guidance for external audiences, such as national governments, civil society, the private sector, international agencies, and defenders themselves. These different stakeholders are engaged by various components of the Action Plan and their contributions will be essential to the achievement of the Plan’s targets. WHO ARE HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS? There is no strict definition of a Human Rights Defender. HRDs are usually described as those individuals, groups, or organisations, working individually or collectively, who seek to promote and protect human rights using peaceful means. They may be journalists, lawyers, grass roots activists, educators, community organisers, indigenous leaders, health workers or scientists, but must share a commitment to the fundamental principles of human rights. Defenders are not defined by who they are, but what they do. Promotion and protection by HRDs takes place in myriad forms – HRDs may act on behalf of individuals to seek access to justice before courts, they may conduct investigations among groups of victims and bring attention to violations through advocacy with government, they may raise awareness of human rights among the community or private sector, or they may provide technical advice to governments on the implementation of international human rights treaties. HRDs might work at the regional or international level, advocating in the UN human rights machinery, or locally with government, community, and civil society actors. Self-identification The Regional Action Plan supports the principle of Self-identification of HRDs, which is also affirmed by the Marrakesh Declaration. This means that APF member NHRIs will support those individuals and groups who consider themselves to be HRDs. However, there are many individuals and organisations that work in support of human rights, particularly at the grass roots level, who may not be directly involved in the human rights community and/or do not think of themselves as defenders. This emphasises the importance of awareness raising of the rights of HRDs and advancing positive narratives on defenders across a diverse range of stakeholders. Women HRDs The Regional Action Plan places Women HRDs (WHRDs) at the forefront of its framework for protection and promotion. Women HRDs face a significantly greater risk of violence and reprisals than their male counterparts. They often work against patriarchal stereotypes and can be stigmatised for their work among family members, their community and society, leading to alienation and unequal access to justice and other informal protection mechanisms of HRD social networks. Part 1: Background | 9