Annual Report 2011–2012 International Criminal Court and gender justice Delegates from across the Asia Pacific, including representatives of NHRIs, gathered in Sydney, Australia from 14–15 February 2012 for a major conference to discuss the work and impact of the International Criminal Court during its first decade. Co-hosted by the Australian Human Rights Centre and the Faculties of Arts and Law of the University of New South Wales, the two-day forum examined the role and success of the Court in achieving gender justice. It also reviewed the reasons for the Asia Pacific’s limited engagement with the International Criminal Court regime and discussed some key lessons from other regions about achieving ratification and full implementation of the Court’s mandate, including in the area of gender justice. High-level presentations were made by: • the President of the Court, Judge Sang-Hyun Song • the Registrar of the Court, Ms Silvana Arbia • Deputy Prosecutor, Ms Fatou Bensouda, and • Ambassador Christian Wenaweser, President of the International Criminal Court Assembly of States Parties. Following the conference, approximately 20 delegates from NHRIs and NGOs in the Asia Pacific took part in a one-day workshop to specifically explore the value and effectiveness of the Rome Statute and the International Criminal Court system in addressing gender injustice as part of the APF’s gender mainstreaming activities. The APF supported the participation of senior representatives from the NHRIs of Afghanistan, Malaysia, the Maldives, the Philippines and Sri Lanka. NGO representatives came from Burma, Fiji, India, Malaysia, Nepal, the Philippines, Timor-Leste and Australia, as well as a representative from the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS). The delegates discussed the following practical areas for NHRI action: • developing campaigns to encourage ratification of the Rome Statute • providing advice on the implementation of the Rome Statute into national law and developing strategies to improve national compliance • engaging with the general public, law enforcement agencies, parliamentarians, policy-makers and the security sector to build greater understanding of the role of the Court, and • conducting investigations and gathering documentation in relation to crimes against humanity, war crimes, genocide and gender-based violence. Gulf human rights The Second Gulf Forum on Human Rights was held in Muscat, Oman from 12–13 March 2012 and was hosted by the NHRI of Oman. The APF joined with representatives of NHRIs, civil society organisations and international agencies working in the Gulf States to discuss key human rights issues in the region. Another key goal of the forum was to bolster relations between NHRIs and civil society organisations within the region. The forum explored strategies and mechanisms for establishing independent NHRIs in the Gulf States that meet the international standards as set out in the Paris Principles. Participants shared experiences about the cooperation and partnerships that exist at the national level, along with initiatives to increase understanding and awareness of human rights principles within the Gulf region. 2. Enhance members’ communication, cooperation and engagement | 25