Promoting gender equality 3 5 11 Across the region and around the globe, women and girls continue to face entrenched discrimination and grievous violations of their fundamental rights. 6 That’s why it is critical that the APF equips 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. very high high medium low very low no response ANNUAL MEMBER SURVEY 2019: VALUE TO MEMBERS OF PROMOTING GENDER EQUALITY The APF Gender Strategy, now in its second year, supports our members to achieve these goals by: • Providing APF-led training courses, roundtables and workshops on the human rights of women and girls • Building understanding and skills in relation to gender mainstreaming within their NHRIs • Strengthening partnerships with key UN agencies on gender-related activities. APF members reported a wide range of activities they had undertaken in the past year to make gender a part of their everyday work. Following an APF workshop for staff and the leadership and team in May 2019, the Provedor for Human Rights and Justice (PDHJ) in Timor Leste appointed two senior members of staff as Gender Focal Points of the organisation. In addition, the PDHJ will ensure that gender considerations are incorporated across all the activities set out in its annual work plan. The Jordan National Centre for Human Rights used a small grant from the APF to run a program to bolster the economic empowerment of women from two rural villages. The National Human Rights Commission of Nepal has revised its complaint handling process to better accommodate the different needs of women and girls. Following their participation in an APF program on monitoring human rights, the Commission has also increased its efforts to end the traditional practice of ‘chhaupadi’, where women and girls are banished from their homes during menstruation. In 2018–19, 13% of our budget went towards activities promoting gender equality. 12 ASIA PACIFIC FORUM OF NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS INSTITUTIONS WHAT WE ACHIEVED IN 2018–19 • Supported APF members – through training programs, practical assistance and guidelines – to make gender mainstreaming a part of their everyday work • Facilitated a discussion between NHRIs, government and civil society in the Pacific on priorities to promote and protect the human rights of women and girls • Updated key APF training resources to ensure there is a clear focus on gender In Palestine, the Independent Commission on Human Rights conducted a gender audit that identified practical ways that gender considerations could be better integrated into the day-to-day operations of the NHRI and in its external work. The National Human Rights Commission of Mongolia held consultations with medical professionals on reproductive health and human rights, with a focus on women with disabilities. The Commission also partnered with the United Nations Population Fund to conduct a field study on the sexual and reproductive health and rights of rural herder women. In the past year, the APF developed guidelines to support NHRIs develop a strategy for gender mainstreaming in their everyday work. In addition, three APF training manuals – on national inquiries, on human rights education and on NHRI capacity assessments – were updated to better examine the gender dimensions involved.