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Asia Pacific Forum - Advancing Human Rights in our Region APF Bulletin
August 2008




Welcome to the monthly newsletter of the APF, a round up of news, activities and events involving national human rights institutions in the Asia Pacific.
APF News
APF 13 round-up

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.

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UPR process helps build genuine dialogue 

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.

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Human rights study tour for Pacific partners

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.

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New human rights chief takes up post

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

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Human Rights Spotlight
 Putting human rights in the bottom line

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

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APF People
Tan Sri Simon Sipaun, National Human Rights Commission of Malaysia

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.

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Around the Region
Australia: High Court decision affirms Indigenous rights read 'ASEAN commits to human rights body'
South Korea: Find Out Fate of 22 N.Koreans, says NHRCK read 'Engaging with the UN: Korea hosts seminar for national institutions'
Timor Leste: UNMIT launches second human rights report read 'Malaysian team visits Australia and NZ'
Maldives: HRCM calls for commission to verify election results read 'Improve law enforcement to check crimes against women'
Philippines: Ratify ASEAN Charter, says CHR read 'Improve law enforcement to check crimes against women'
Malaysia: Allow foreign workers to set up association read 'Improve law enforcement to
check crimes against women'
New Zealand: Disability complaint lodged against 'discriminatory' education policies read 'Improve law enforcement to check crimes against women'
Events & Training
Social Forum of the UN Human Rights Council
Discussion looks at strategies to reduce poverty; 1 – 3 September 2008; Geneva, Switzerland »
Human Rights Council, 9th Session
8-26 September 2008; Geneva, Switzerland »
7th Global Conference on Human Development
Hosted by the Institute of Cultural Affairs International; 17 – 21 November 2008; Takayama, Japan »
Third International Conference of Cairo, ‘The UDHR, 60 years after’
Hosted by UNESCO and the Egyptian National Council for Human Rights; 1-2 December 2008, Cairo, Egypt »
Resources
APF 13 Meeting Papers
Country reports, background papers, NGO statements, concluding statement and more »
Human Rights Manual for Judges, Prosecutors and Lawyers
A 44-page Addendum to the 2003 handbook; available from the OHCHR website »
National Human Rights Institutions Forum
The redeveloped website is now hosted by the National Human Rights Commission of India »
Know Your Rights 2008
Interactive and educational website to mark the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights »
Opportunities
2009-10 Reagan-Fascell Democracy Fellows Program
Open to activists, practitioners, scholars and journalists; based in Washington DC, USA; apply by 10 November 2008 »
Human Rights Officer, P-4, OHCHR
Based in Geneva; UPR-related role; apply by 22 September 2008 »
Investigator, P-3, International Criminal Court
Based in The Hague; Office of the Prosecutor; apply by 8 September 2008 »
Fellowships for Threatened Academics
Scholar Rescue Fund run by the Institute of International Education; applications for current round close 5 September 2008 »


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