Annual Report 2013–2014 Economic and social rights The APF, in partnership with the Center for Economic and Social Rights (CESR), continued its work with a third and final pilot project in expectation of developing a regional training program on measuring economic and social rights. Following a competitive selection process, the Palestinian Independent Commission for Human Rights was selected as the third pilot institution. Monitoring economic, social and cultural rights training resource. From 12-14 May 2014, the APF and CESR ran a workshop for 30 staff of the Commission’s headquarters and West Bank and Gaza field offices to develop its project on applying the ESCR tool to monitor the Palestinian Authority’s development plan and measure the protection of economic and social rights in Palestine, especially for marginalized groups. The participants developed an understanding of the tools and techniques that underpin the ESCR framework, including the identification of relevant indicators and benchmarks, gathering primary and secondary data and analysing budgets. High-level dialogues The APF offers its members a high-level dialogue program, where the APF engages a senior Commissioner or Secretary General from one of its member institutions to facilitate a dialogue with another Commission on a range of administrative and operational issues, such as: • the role of NHRIs • the importance of engaging with both the State – including the government, parliament, judiciary, police and military – and with the community to promote and protect fundamental rights • the importance of drafting and finalising founding legislation in conformity with the Paris Principles • developing effective complaint handling procedures • establishing human rights education programs and partnerships, and �� building relationships with NHRIs in the region and internationally. The program is often implemented for recently established NHRIs or with NHRIs that have recently had a change in leadership. During the reporting period, the APF ran high-level dialogues for the following NHRIs: • Ombudsman of Samoa, Apia, Samoa, 14-19 July 2013 • Indonesian National Commission on Human Rights, Bogor, Indonesia, 15-16 August 2013 • Human Rights Commission of Malaysia, 18-20 August 2013, and • Palestinian Independent Commission for Human Rights, Ramallah, Palestine, 24-26 April 2014. European Network of NHRIs From 11-15 November 2013, at the request of the recently established European Network of NHRIs, the APF participated in the regional meeting of the network to assist in the development of its strategic plan. The NHRIs from Europe particularly wanted to find out about the role and functions of the APF and the lessons learned from its establishment and functioning. 1. Enhance members’ institutional capacity | 19