Promoting gender equality 3 4 11 Across the Asia Pacific, entrenched roles, attitudes and stereotypes mean that many women and girls experience poverty, discrimination and unequal access to basic services. And while positive changes are taking place, the pace of that change remains slow. 6 very high high medium low very low no response Many APF members have been extremely courageous in confronting the complex issues that place women and girls at risk of discrimination and serious human rights violations, such as rape, “honour killings”, family violence and human trafficking. Their vital work continued this year, with the APF providing training and support to the: • National Human Rights Commission of Nepal to conduct a public inquiry on access to justice of survivors of rape in Kavre District, as a follow-up activity our inaugural training program on the human rights of women and girls in 2015 ANNUAL MEMBER SURVEY 2017: VALUE TO MEMBERS OF PROMOTING GENDER EQUALITY WHAT WE ACHIEVED IN 2016–17 • Provided APF members with practical support to promote and protect the rights of women, including a ground-breaking national inquiry into family violence in Samoa. • Commission on the Human Rights of the Philippines to assist the NHRI bolster its advocacy and complaint handling work, as well as deliver on its mandate as the nation’s Gender Ombud • Conducted an analysis of gender equality among APF members and continued to encourage decision makers to ensure equal representation of women at all levels of NHRIs. • Office of the Ombudsman of Samoa to conduct a ground-breaking national inquiry into family violence. • Developed guidelines to ensure that all APF secretariat staff, consultants and trainers address gender-related issues in a consistent manner. A POWERFUL VOICE FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS In the past year, our members have spoken out strongly to defend the fundamental right of women to be free from violence and exploitation and to be treated with fairness and dignity. APF members have: 14 • Called for improved data collection to better respond to domestic and family violence homicides (Australia) • Conducted a major study to document the scale and emerging trends in human trafficking (Nepal) • Made practical recommendations to improve access to reproductive health information and services for all women, following a national inquiry (Philippines) • Advocated raising the minimum age of marriage for Muslim girls (Malaysia) • Drawn attention to the “pathetic” conditions of women workers in textile retail shops (India) • Empowered young women with information and tools to tackle the gender pay gap (New Zealand). ASIA PACIFIC FORUM OF NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS INSTITUTIONS