82 SUHAKAM 2. International Participation/Meetings SUHAKAM is a member of four NHRI networks with each network having its function and objectives. i. Southeast Asia National Human Rights Institutions Forum The Southeast Asia National Human Rights Institutions Forum (SEANF) is a sub-regional network of six NHRIs: Indonesia (Komnas HAM), Malaysia (SUHAKAM), Myanmar (MNHRC), the Philippines (CHRP), Thailand (NHRCT) and Timor Leste (PDHJ). As the current chair of SEANF, PDHJ hosted two Technical Working Group meetings and SEANF’s annual meeting in Timor Leste, all of which SUHAKAM attended. Alongside the yearly meeting, PDHJ organised a half-day seminar on “Ensuring the inclusiveness and equality for persons with disabilities”. During the session, SUHAKAM shared its best practices on the promotion and protection of the rights of persons with disabilities. SUHAKAM also shared the main challenges to the promotion and protection of persons with disabilities in the Malaysian context. They include the following: • • • Lack of penalties or real legal repercussions under the Persons With Disabilities (PWD) Act; Lack of interest, information or promotion regarding PWD and their challenges; and Weak enforcement of laws, particularly those relating to building codes In 2017, SEANF members proposed the development of regional guidelines to assist them in preventing torture effectively. The Association for Prevention of Torture (APT) was invited to provide technical support. The SEANF Guidelines on Torture Prevention is expected to be completed by the end of 2019. ii. Asia Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institutions The Asia Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institutions (APF) is a coalition of 24 NHRIs from the Asia Pacific Region. The APF promotes and facilitates the capacity-building of member institutions through various programmes. As an ‘A’ status NHRI, SUHAKAM has voting and participatory rights.