Promoting gender equality We established the APF Gender Network The establishment of the APF Gender Network (AGN) is another initiative to support NHRIs to focus on developing their capacity to mainstream gender in their internal operations as well as support their gender specialisation work. Gender equality outcomes Gender considerations are mainstreamed across our operations, activities and programmes. Our theory of change asserts that independent and effective NHRIs, acting individually and collectively to influence laws, policies, practices and attitudes, will create an improved human rights environment in the Asia Pacific, including for women (cis and trans) and girl-children. Our impact We published a new Gender Audit Toolkit, providing concrete, actionable steps that NHRIs can take to strengthen gender equality within their institution We hosted the first APF Women Leaders Forum meeting, providing an opportunity for women leaders across the APF membership to discuss gender issues We facilitated online sessions between NHRIs to share experiences of undertaking national inquiries into gender-based violence The APF’s work on promoting gender equality is highly valued by APF members, as reflected in the results of our Annual Member survey. We provided support to the national inquiry into genderbased violence in Bangladesh The AGN was initially piloted with representatives from nine NHRIs, and the APF will work towards expanding the network to all members. The APF conducted a High-Level Dialogue (HLD) with the Chairperson and Commissioners of the National Human Rights Commission of Bangladesh (NHRC) in October 2020. As a result of the gender issues raised during the HLD, the NHRC announced its intention to conduct a National Inquiry on Violence Against Women, Children and Rape, and requested further support from the APF. We hosted the first meeting of the APF Women Leaders Forum We provided ongoing advice and support to the NHRC, taking part in an initial consultation meeting on the National Inquiry, co-facilitated with the NHRC and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The APF Women Leaders Forum (WLF) was established in 2020, bringing together women Chairpersons and Commissioners from NHRIs across our region. The forum aims to support and encourage these leaders in their efforts to promote and protect the human rights of women and girls through the work of their NHRIs, and to strengthen gender mainstreaming within their institutions. The WLF held its first meeting in April 2021, providing an opportunity for women leaders to reflect upon the gender-related work of their NHRIs. The virtual meeting was hosted by the APF Chairperson and attended by 13 women leaders. We also held online dialogues between the NHRC and two APF member institutions on their experiences conducting national inquiries into gender-based violence. The Office of the Ombudsman of Samoa shared their experience of conducting a national inquiry into family violence. In a separate session, the former Chairperson of the NHRI of Afghanistan shared some of the key lessons learnt during their national inquiry into so-called “honour killings” in Afghanistan. The NHRC reported that the sessions were of immense value to its planning, methodology and community engagement with stakeholders. The members agreed to hold twice yearly meetings addressing specific issues relating to gender, and mainstreaming gender in NHRIs. The APF will work towards increasing the number of NHRIs participating in forthcoming meetings of the WLF. Working towards a more gender-equal world Across the region and around the globe, women and girls continue to face entrenched discrimination and violations of their fundamental rights. That is why it is critical that we equip our members to champion the rights of women and girls in all aspects of their work. We also encourage our members to advance gender equality within the internal operation of their NHRIs. The APF Gender Strategy takes a twin-track approach, combining gender specialisation and mainstreaming 26 ASIA PACIFIC FORUM OF NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS INSTITUTIONS measures in its effort to promote gender equality within our membership and secretariat. The key objectives of the Strategy are to: • Support our membership to prioritise and focus on women’s and girls’ human rights • Support gender mainstreaming processes within our membership; and • Mainstream gender into the APF secretariat. ANNUAL REPORT 2020/21 27