Participants of the National Workshop on Torture Prevention held in Suva, Fiji.
Capacity development programs to support
APF members
Our capacity development programs help NHRIs carry out their core functions including monitoring
human rights, receiving and addressing complaints, advising governments, reviewing laws, and
conducting human rights education.
We design our programs to address the evolving challenges NHRIs face in safeguarding human rights
while building the skills and knowledge they need to fulfil their mandates effectively. Over the past
year, our programs covered a wide range of topics, focusing on the APF’s key thematic priorities of
gender equality, the human rights impacts of climate change, and the protection of HRDs.
Online NHRI Induction Programme
In April and May 2024, we conducted a four-week online induction program for newly appointed NHRI
staff from our member institutions. The program aimed to build a strong understanding of human rights
and the mandate of NHRIs through a blend of self-paced learning, interactive live sessions, and active
engagement in the online APF Community forum.
Eighty-five participants from 18 NHRIs enrolled in the induction program, with all participants reporting
increased knowledge of human rights, NHRI roles, the Paris Principles, and gender equality.
Human Rights Defenders Programme (HRDs)
Through the NHRI.EU project, funded by the European Union, we continued to implement several
initiatives to support our Regional Action Plan on HRDs (RAP). We developed two online learning
modules to complement our existing courses, including expanded content on NHRI engagement with
CSOs and the facilitation of relocation and respite for HRDs under threat.
Partnering with the Danish Institute for Human Rights (DIHR), we introduced the Right to Defend
Rights Tool to the NHRIs of the Maldives, Nepal, and Thailand. This collaboration also led to the
development of toolkits featuring good practices, offering comprehensive resources to support NHRI
efforts in protecting HRDs.
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APF Annual Report 2023-24