viii INTEGRATING REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS INTO THE WORK OF NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS INSTITUTIONS OF THE ASIA PACIFIC REGION difficult conversations and forging new ground in the promotion and protection of reproductive rights. National Human Rights Institutions National human rights institutions (NHRIs) are independent state bodies with a specific mandate to promote and protect human rights. They are either established by the Constitution or by law. Their responsibilities can include: to submit recommendations, proposals and reports on any matter concerning the protection and promotion of human rights; to analyze compliance of laws and policies with human rights standards and recommendations for harmonization; to make recommendations for redress in relation to any situation of violation of human rights or any individual or collective complaints on alleged violations; to prepare reports on human rights situations; to draw the attention of the government to situations in any part of the country where human rights are violated and make proposals to put an end to such situation; and to cooperate with international, regional and national agencies to protect and promote human rights. National human rights institutions established in accordance with the United Nations’ “Principles Relating to the Status of National Human Rights Institutions” (the Paris Principles) are recognized as important actors in the international human rights system. They regularly participate in human rights mechanisms including the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC) and its Universal Periodic Review, human rights treaty bodies and Special Procedures. Participation at the HRC occurs in both in their individual capacity and through representative bodies including the International Coordinating Committee of National Human Rights and the Asia Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institutions. The Asia Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institutions The Asia Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institutions (APF) was established in 1996 to support the establishment and strengthening of national human rights institutions in the region. As a member-based, not-for-profit organization, the APF provides a framework for NHRIs to work together and cooperate on a regional basis through a wide range of services including training, capacity building, networks and staff exchanges. Full membership of the APF requires that the NHRI has been established and is functioning in accordance with the Paris Principles. The APF currently has 15 full members as well as two associate (or observer) member institutions. APF members represent a diverse range of countries from across the Asia Pacific region.2 The Forum Council is the APF’s decision-making body, and is made up of senior representatives from each full member institution. The APF secretariat implements the decisions of the Forum Council and manages the day-to-day operations of the APF. As at January 2011 the APF’s 15 full member institutions are the NHRIs of Australia, Afghanistan, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Korea, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nepal, New Zealand, Palestine, Philippines, Qatar, Thailand, Timor-Leste. The two Associate or Observer member institutions are the NHRIs of the Maldives and Sri Lanka. 2