Asia Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institutions
1.3. Advisory Council of Jurists
Evaluation findings
Outcome indicator
ACJ references
Performance rating
More work needed
In 2010 the APF’s (ACJ) conducted an in-depth study of the domestic laws and policies relating to
sexual orientation and gender identity in the States of the (then) 17 APF member institutions.
The report, published in December 2010, assessed the consistency of these laws and policies with
international human rights standards and provided recommendations to assist NHRIs address identified
shortcomings.
The ACJ report and recommendations provided a framework for the work of the APF and its member
institutions in promoting and protecting the rights of people of diverse sexuality and gender identity.
Impacts and outcomes directly linked to this activity are set out below.
Fifteen member NHRIs responded to a survey on the implementation of the ACJ recommendations. Three
of these, the NHRIs of Jordan, the Palestinian Territories and Qatar did not regard the recommendations
on sexual orientation and gender identity as applicable. The Human Rights Commission of the Maldives,
which regarded the recommendations as not applicable last year, reported partial implementation this year.
Figure 3: Implementation of ACJ recommendations in relation to sexual orientation
and gender identity in 2012 and 2013 – percentage of participating NHRIs reporting not
applicable, fully, partially or not implementing recommendations
2013 complaints
handling
2012 complaints
handling
2013 advocacy
2012 advocacy
Yes
2013 education
Partially
2012 education
No
Not
applicable
2013 monitoring
2012 monitoring
2013 law reform
2012 law reform
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
The implementation of the report’s recommendations remains relatively unchanged since 2011–12,
as shown in Figure 3. The minor changes in the reported implementation can largely be attributed to
changes in the cohort of members reporting this year, compared with last year.
18 | 1. Enhance members’ institutional capacity to promote and protect human rights