“APF supported NHRIs to advance the rights of people with disabilities at UN’s flagship annual meeting in New York … (also) strengthening the role of NHRIs to become formally included in the work of the UN panel on ageing.” FORGING CONNECTIONS WITH REGIONAL MECHANISMS NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE OF QATAR The APF believes that NHRI participation in regional mechanisms – in South East Asia, as well as in South Asia, the Pacific and among Arab nations – has the potential to strengthen understanding among States about human rights principles and inform policy-making. While there is currently limited scope for NHRIs to engage with these mechanisms, the APF is exploring opportunities for NHRIs to initiate conversations with regional mechanisms in South East Asia and the Pacific on those human rights issues that are a priority for them. Through our sub-regional office in Qatar, we coordinate and deliver programs to strengthen NHRIs in West Asia, as well as engage with governments and civil society organisations. The APF also continues to work with OHCHR, UNDP and GANHRI to provide support to five NHRIs in Central Asia: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. In June 2020, the APF held a virtual ‘introduction session’ with the Ombudsperson of Turkmenistan to discuss the work of the newly-established institution and potential areas of APF support. The Skype meeting was organised after the APF’s planned country visit was postponed due to COVID-19 travel restrictions. Representatives from UNDP and OHCHR also took part in the discussion. COLLABORATING WITH CIVIL SOCIETY The APF values its cooperation with civil society partners at the national level, in regional forums and on the international stage. APF members held a formal dialogue with the Asian NGO Network on National Human Rights Institutions (ANNI) at our annual meeting in September 2019. In addition, the APF secretariat was invited to contribute to the ANNI annual meeting, held in Taiwan in February 2020. At the national level, APF members have forged close partnerships with civil society to broaden the reach, impact and scope of their work. In some cases, civil society groups are represented on NHRI advisory committees or support them to undertake projects with specific groups. ANNUAL REPORT 2019–20 17