Human rights and corporate accountability, the new Universal Periodic Review process and the state of human rights defenders in the Asia Pacific – just some of the many topics discussed at the APF’s 13th Annual Meeting.

Productive engagement between government, national human rights institutions and civil society is one of the key benefits to emerge from the new UN process to review the human rights situation of countries, said participants at APF 13.

Two representatives from the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat recently finished a three-week human rights study program, which included visits to New Zealand, Australia and Malaysia.

Navanethem Pillay, the United Nation's new High Commissioner for Human Rights, will begin her four-year term on 1 September 2008.

The Advisory Council of Jurists has recommended steps that national human rights institutions can take to promote human rights standards to business.

Drawing on his experience of life in rural Sabah, SUHAKAM’s Vice Chairman believes greater respect for customary land rights can assist Malaysia’s indigenous communities to overcome social and economic disadvantage.