Communicating our impact In 2021-22, we continued to implement our Communications Strategy by promoting the work of the NHRIs in the Asia Pacific region and creating quality content to engage our members, stakeholders, partner organisations, and donors. Throughout the year, we focused on strengthening our social media presence to build relationships, forge partnerships and connect with our target audiences, by sharing timely content on the activities of the APF secretariat and our member institutions. We also continued to share news, resources and events relating to the work of NHRIs in the region, on our website and via our monthly e-newsletter and broadcast emails. We also undertook initiatives to reflect and respond to the information needs of our members, partners and donors, including the sourcing and sharing of good practice examples from NHRIs, supporting our members to create digital stories to engage with local communities, and presenting our reports and communications materials with a focus on our impact. Digital storytelling to drive change The APF Digital Storytelling Small Grants Program supports NHRIs to produce a digital story (video, photo series, podcast or other medium) focusing on a key human rights issue or demonstrating how the core work of the NHRI has delivered tangible benefits to an individual or community. Members of the APF Communications Network took part in program during 2021-22. One of the successful small grant recipients, the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM), produced a video on the right to education during COVID. The SUHAKAM team engaged with civil society organisations and policy makers who advocate for policy changes to improve accessibility and education facilities for children in Malaysia. The digital story aimed to raise greater awareness among Malaysians on the rights of all children to enjoy equal opportunities, regardless their social status or financial capability. The National Human Rights Commission of Nepal also took part in the program, producing a digital story focused on the rights of Dalit communities, and assessing the gaps between existing legal provisions to protect their rights, and the implementation of these laws. Advocating for the safety of staff from the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission We provided support and advocacy for staff of the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC), following the Taliban takeover of the country in August 2021. In advocating for the safe passage of AIHRC staff out of Afghanistan, we ran an awareness-raising social media campaign ‘Leave no defender behind’ and published a series of articles, social media posts, and statements in support of the campaign. This work included media articles published in international news outlets and two video statements delivered to the United Nations Human Rights Council by the APF Chairperson. This work has supported the safe passage of AIHRC staff out of Afghanistan, and their resettlement in various countries throughout the world. 20 APF Annual Report 2021-2022