The APF secretariat has held a high-level engagement with the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC), to support the Commission in addressing key structural issues.

Held virtually on 23 December 2020, the high level engagement focused on the role and responsibilities of Commissioners and internal structures within the AIHRC.

The APF was represented by Pip Dargan, Principal Adviser, Capacity Assessments and International Engagement, and Chris Sidoti, former Australian Human Rights Commissioner and Foundation Secretary of Australia's NHRI.

The Chairperson of the AIHRC, Shaharzad Akbar, requested the high level engagement one year after an APF-facilitated high level dialogue was held in Kabul in November 2019.

The high-level engagement enabled the exchange of information between Commission members, including the Chairperson, to assist them to discuss a range of structural issues.

The APF is committed to continuing its support to the AIHRC, and to all APF members by providing advice and responding to requests for assistance.