Accreditation outcomes directly affect an NHRI’s membership of both GANHRI and the APF
and determine their ability to participate independently in the UN Human Rights Council,
significantly enhancing their global credibility.
Over the past year, we worked with nine (9) NHRIs: Australia, Bahrain, India,
Myanmar, Nepal, Oman, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, all of which were undergoing
accreditation reviews, as well as Iraq which was scheduled for a special review.
Key achievements include Nepal and Australia retaining A-status, Sri Lanka regaining
A-status, and Pakistan (which was not yet an APF member) achieving A-status for
the first time.
Following sustained APF support, Turkmenistan’s Ombudsperson applied for accreditation,
with a review scheduled for October 2024.
We also participated in the SCA sessions in October 2023 and April/May 2024. During
this period, New Zealand’s NHRI assumed the role of SCA Chair early, ensuring regional
representation after the NHRI of Palestine was unable to attend the October session due
to the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
Building confidence for accreditation
Our Annual Program on GANHRI Accreditation is a blended learning course designed
to equip NHRI senior staff and leadership with the tools to navigate the accreditation
process and understand the Paris Principles. The program aims to enhance participants’
confidence in the accreditation process, improve accreditation outcomes, and foster
knowledge exchange among NHRIs. By promoting collaboration and shared learning,
the program supports members to engage effectively with GANHRI’s SCA and support
institutional improvements.
Participants from the NHRIs of India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and the United Arab
Emirates, took part in the annual program, which featured an online course and an inperson workshop from 27–29 February 2024 in Manila, Philippines. The workshop included
interactive panels and practical exercises, with facilitators from the NHRIs of the Philippines
and Nepal sharing their accreditation experiences. Representatives from GANHRI and the
United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) also provided
briefings on key aspects of the accreditation process.
Participants of the APF Annual Accreditation Program 2024.
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APF Annual Report 2023-24