REGIONAL ACTION 4: Facilitate relocation and respite for Human Rights Defenders • NHRI support to existing relocation and respite for HRDs at risk • APF support to NHRIs to develop NHRI-led national relocation and respite programs The APF and its members will support regional relocation and respite for defenders at risk, where deemed safe. This will include facilitating support to HRDs through established initiatives, such as the EU Temporary Relocation Platform, Urgent Action Fund for Women’s Human Rights – Asia Pacific rapid response grants, Front Line Defenders’ Protection Grants and Rest and Respite Fellowships, and FORUM-ASIA’s Protection Plan for defenders at risk. APF will work closely with counterparts at EU Delegations, Embassies, civil society representatives and international organisations to ensure these global programs are available to defenders at risk locally and publicised through APF member NHRIs. To complement existing global initiatives and recognising the risks faced by NHRI staff as HRDs themselves, the APF will support its members to develop their own HRD relocation or respite initiatives, where safe to do so and appropriate in the national context. These may be integrated into early warning systems described in National Action 4, using mechanisms such as witness protection programs for HRDs. REGIONAL ACTION 5: Support the establishment of NHRIs • Provide technical assistance to governments to establish new NHRIs • Support existing institutions to expand their mandate to become an NHRI The APF commits to continue its support for the establishment of NHRIs across the Asia Pacific region. As HRDs themselves, NHRIs occupy a crucial role in the protection and promotion of human rights in their respective national contexts. Through their own initiatives and unique position within the national rule of law architecture, NHRIs also deliver protection for HRDs and raise awareness of their rights among a diverse range of national stakeholders. Of the 57 UN member states that comprise the Asia Pacific region (the APF’s geographical remit), only 25 have NHRIs that are accredited with GANHRI and are members of the APF. This means that less than half of states in the region have a recognised NHRI to support the protection and promotion of HRDs, which is a significant human rights deficit. Over the course of the Action Plan, the APF will commit to supporting the establishment of five additional NHRIs and advising on institutional structures compliant with the Paris Principles, which will improve the overall protection and promotion landscape for HRDs. This work may involve working directly with governments to provide advice on the establishment of a new institution or, where appropriate, supporting an existing body (such as an Ombudsman institution with a good governance mandate) to expand its mandate to include the protection and promotion of human rights. Part 2: Regional Actions | 21