Representatives from 13 Pacific countries will participate in a regional workshop this week to discuss issues around the establishment of national human rights institutions in their island states.

Proposed changes to the process for obtaining APF membership will be discussed during the organisation’s 14th Annual Meeting, to be held in Jordan in August.

A task force to help NHRIs engage business groups on human rights issues was one of the practical outcomes from the 22nd meeting of the International Coordinating Committee of NHRIs, held in Geneva last month.

In the wake of the nullification of Fiji’s constitution, the United Nations human rights chief has expressed deep concern over media censorship and the sacking of judges in the Pacific archipelago nation.

National human rights institutions from across the Asia Pacific region recently gathered to share ideas and consider strategies to build long-term solutions to the common challenges they face.

Measures to address climate change should be informed and strengthened by international human rights standards and principles, says an analytical study by the OHCHR.

“As well as region-wide cooperation, APF members have worked together to drive important developments at the international level that benefit NHRIs around the globe,” says the Director of the APF Secretariat.