The APF will host a virtual launch of the Regional Action Plan on Human Rights Defenders.

Recent years have seen a sharp decline in civic space in many countries across the Asia Pacific, impacting the ability of human rights defenders (HRDs) to work safely and effectively. The COVID-19 pandemic has further impacted upon the work of HRDs, who face heightened threats to their security, wellbeing, and ability to speak out against human rights violations.

Drawing on the expertise of National Human Rights Institution representatives, civil society organisations and members of the international human rights community, the APF has recently developed a Regional Action Plan on Human Rights Defenders. The Regional Action Plan sets out regional and national actions that the APF and its member institutions will carry out over the next four years to improve the rights of HRDs in the Asia Pacific.

The Regional Action Plan on Human Rights Defenders is available in four languages: Arabic, Chinese, English and Russian.

Event details

Details about the upcoming virtual launch, including an event summary and speaker / panellist biographies can be downloaded here.

Panel discussion - submit your questions

The launch will also include a Question-and-Answer session with our panellists to discuss their respective work on the rights of HRDs in the Asia Pacific region. We invite you to submit any questions prior to the launch, as we will unfortunately not have the capacity to take live questions at the event.

Please submit your questions on or before Wednesday, 10 March 2021 to:

Amy Janowski Communications and Networking Officer Asia Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institutions Email: amyjanowski@asiapacificforum.net

Event registration

To register for the event, please click here.

Once you have registered, a Zoom link will be sent to you prior to the event.

The event will take place in English, with Arabic and Russian translation available.