The APF Women Leaders Forum held its first meeting on 15 April 2021, providing an opportunity for women leaders across the APF membership to discuss the human rights of women and girls and reflect upon the gender-related work of their NHRIs.

The virtual meeting was hosted by the APF Chairperson and President of the Australian Human Rights Commission, Emeritus Professor Rosalind Croucher AM, and attended by 13 women leaders from across the Asia Pacific region.

Each participant delivered a short presentation on their NHRI's successes and challenges to achieving gender equality, as well as key gender-related initiatives currently being undertaken.

Established in 2020, the APF Women Leaders Forum brings together women Chairpersons and Commissioners from NHRIs across the Asia Pacific.

The forum aims to support and encourage these leaders in their efforts to promote and protect the human rights of women and girls through the work of their NHRIs, and to strengthen gender mainstreaming within their institutions.

"The APF Women Leaders Forum provides a platform for women leaders to deliberate on issues that may affect them directly," APF Gender Focal Point, Aishath Fasoha said.

The APF is committed to achieving gender equality, by supporting members institutions to incorporate gender into all aspects of their work. The APF's approach is guided by the APF Gender Policy.

The APF also recently published a comprehensive gender audit toolkit for NHRIs, which supports NHRIs to assess, identify and mainstream gender considerations and the human rights of women and girls in all their operations.

The APF Women Leaders Forum will meet twice a year, with future meetings to focus on one or two key issues.