Strengthening NHRI compliance with the Paris Principles
Representatives from 12 National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) in the Asia Pacific have taken part in the APF’s Annual Program on GANHRI Accreditation.
APF members, along with NHRIs from the other three regions of the world, undergo a peer-based review process coordinated by the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI), through its Sub-Committee on Accreditation (SCA).
The accreditation process assesses compliance with the Paris Principles, the international minimum standards required by NHRIs to be independent, credible and effective.
The aim of the annual program is to increase the confidence of participants on accreditation, improve accreditation outcomes for existing and prospective APF members, and facilitate the exchange of knowledge between NHRIs.
The 2023 program, held over six weeks from 23 January to 22 February, included two components: an online learning component, and a two-day, face-to-face workshop held in Bangkok, Thailand, from 21 to 22 February.
The workshop was built around interactive panel discussions, with panellists drawn from APF member institutions that have recently completed their accreditation reviews with GANHRI. The workshop also involved a series of practical exercises, based on a case study of a hypothetical NHRI.
"The Chair and two Commissioners learned and appreciated the workshop. As newly appointed Chair and Commissioners it was important for them to see their fellow NHRI leaders working and aspiring for an A-status accreditation or re-accreditation"
Atty Gemma Parojinog, Director, CHR Philippines
Representatives from the NHRIs of Bahrain, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, the Maldives, Oman, Pakistan, the Philippines, New Zealand, Malaysia, Thailand, Timor-Leste and Turkmenistan, took part in the program, which was facilitated by APF Legal and Policy Manager, Phillip Wardle, and APF Human Rights Defenders Project Officer, Fia Hamid-Walker.
The APF is grateful for the generous assistance of the National Human Rights Commission of Thailand for co-facilitating the Bangkok workshop, and the support of the European Union through the NHRI.EU Phase 3 Project.
We also acknowledge the assistance of other international partners, including the United Nations Development Program, for supporting some participants to take part in the workshop.
Date: 3 March 2023
