Outcomes
1.
Deeper understanding among NHRIs of the role and mandate of their respective IGMs
2.
Open dialogue to identify opportunities to collaborate with IGMs for shared impact
3.
NHRIs demonstrate their ‘added value’ to the work and priorities of IGMs
4.
Partnerships between NHRIs and IGMs established in multiple countries
5.
Increased capacity among all NHRIs to identify and initiate collaboration on human rights
issues with IGMs
The primary outcome of these dialogues – supplemented by the national activities undertaken in
Fiji, the Philippines, Samoa and Thailand – has been the establishment of genuine partnerships
and collaboration that were almost non-existent before.
These relationships were established through discussion between NHRIs and their IGMs to
identify areas of commonality and opportunities to contribute towards shared priorities, based on
their respective mandates. Apart from SPC, this was also the first opportunity for IGMs to learn
about the work and mandate of NHRIs in their region.
In the Pacific, PIFS explained how the monitoring and reporting work of NHRIs could contribute
to implementation of the 2050 Blue Pacific Strategy, endorsed by Pacific Islands Forum Leaders
in July 2022, especially in relation to the thematic strategies around climate change and peoplecentred development.
NHRIs were also advised about developments in the campaign led by Vanuatu for the
International Court of Justice to issue an Advisory Opinion on the legal obligations of States
regarding climate change, endorsed by the UN General Assembly in March 2023. SPC shared
how NHRIs could contribute to this advocacy by documenting the human rights impacts of climate
change on communities across the Pacific. SPREP discussed their environmental work in the
region and welcomed opportunities to collaborate and support NHRIs in their activities around
climate change, the environment and human rights.
In South-East Asia, NHRIs were informed through an open exchange with national
Representatives to AICHR of the procedures that will inform the development of a possible
framework on environmental rights for ASEAN. In understanding this context, participating NHRIs
were able to identify how they could engage with and support the work of their respective national
Representative. These discussions also helped inform the national activities undertaken by the
NHRIs of Thailand and the Philippines.
Civil society organisations and environmental human rights defenders were invited to join the
dialogues in both sub-regions, ensuring that a wide range of issues and concerns were raised,
with a focus on protecting the rights of groups most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.
The participation of key civil society organisations also assisted NHRIs to consider opportunities
to broaden the scope of their partnerships, both nationally and across their sub-region, to increase
the breadth and impact of their work on human rights, climate change and the environment.
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