Executive summary National human rights institutions (NHRIs) are independent legal entities established by law to promote and protect human rights. For that reason they are subject to the laws under which they are established and operate. The principal focus of those laws is always domestic but NHRIs’ jurisdictions are not exclusively domestic. In fact, under their laws NHRIs have a range of roles and responsibilities and can undertake a range of functions in relation to extra-territorial human rights cases and situations. Each NHRI’s ability to deal with extra-territorial cases and situations depends on its law. In fact, NHRI laws often give NHRIs significant scope for this. The operations of NHRIs in the Asia Pacific region demonstrate how, within their legal mandates, they have been able to respond to extra-territorial cases and situations. They have investigated and acted on extra-territorial violations of human rights by officials of their home country and extra-territorial violations of the rights of citizens of their home country. They have investigated and reported and advised on broad systematic patterns of human rights violation, at least part of which arises outside their home country. Many examples of these actions are included in this paper. The examples show how NHRIs have sought to respond to some of the most important and most challenging human rights issues: the extreme violence and the Israeli Occupation in Palestine, military dictatorship and its consequences in Myanmar, climate change, mining and other business operations, migrant workers. Many NHRIs have been willing and able, within the scope of their legislation, to deal with some of the most difficult human rights issues. The best way to explore the scope of NHRI roles in relation to extra-territorial human rights cases and situations is through their specific functions. The most relevant functions, but not the only relevant ones, are • The investigation and resolution of cases of human rights violation • National inquiries into systemic patterns of human rights violation • Advice and recommendation on human rights promotion and protection • International cooperation • Human rights education. NHRIs in the Asia Pacific region have been active in dealing with extra-territorial human rights cases and situations under all these functions. There is considerable scope, however, for more NHRIs to be more active in these areas. This paper demonstrates that and shows how. National action on international issues 5