The unique institutional landscape of the Asia Pacific and the diversity among members of the APF demand a strategic response at the regional level. Regional actors, including the APF, play an essential role in supporting HRDs; by deploying technical assistance to NHRIs and civil society in response to acute violations, mobilising political support for defenders and NHRIs to bring attention to violations and protection gaps at the regional level, and facilitating the exchange of ideas across the region to strengthen protection and promotion capacity locally. Key regional allies in the support of defenders include regional civil society actors, such as FORUMASIA, and international civil society organisations (CSOs) active regionally, themselves also HRDs and HRD advocates; the regional presence of international organisations, particularly OHCHR, UNDP, and UNEP; and foreign embassies and delegations, including the European Union (EU), many of which have established HRD support programs. REGIONAL ACTION 1: Support regional policy making on Human Rights Defenders • Advocate regionally for the rights of HRDs • Engage with intergovernmental mechanisms on the rights of HRDs APF members, both collectively and individually, are committed to supporting the development of regional policy on HRDs. As mentioned above, a unique aspect of the Asia Pacific region is the absence of a pan-regional human rights framework, unlike counterpart arrangements in Africa, the Americas and Europe. There is also no region-wide specialised intergovernmental mechanism through which APF members can collectively engage on human rights. Accordingly, advocacy and regional policy making in support of HRDs in the region requires a dynamic and creative approach. The APF will support its members or groups of members to engage with intergovernmental mechanisms that exist wholly or partially within the Asia Pacific region, such as the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR), the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS), South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), and the Arab Human Rights Committee. Sub-regional and regional policy making can be the mechanism through which many other actions and support initiatives for HRDs are realised. REGIONAL ACTION 2: Engage with regional civil society actors and international partners • Build and strengthen relationships with CSOs at a regional level • Engage with regional representatives of the international community As in national contexts, civil society in the Asia Pacific region occupies a fundamental role in the protection and promotion of the rights of HRDs. CSOs are often HRDs themselves and, at the regional level, also support an important advocacy and networking function on behalf of national HRDs. The APF will work in partnership with key regional CSOs and regional HRD networks – as well as international CSOs active at the regional level – in the implementation of this Action Plan, including through facilitating relationships between these CSOs and APF members. This may involve collaboration on policy development, joint resource mobilisation, data collection and analysis on violations, programs for the protection of HRDs at risk, and NHRI collaboration initiatives. The APF and many of its members maintain robust and productive relationships with many civil society allies, which will be strengthened as part of this Action Plan. Part 2: Regional Actions | 19