The national human rights commissions of Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand have prepared a joint position paper on the new ASEAN rights body.

Building greater collaboration between national human rights institutions and NGOs to strengthen protections for migrant workers was one of the key areas of discussion at a workshop held earlier this month in Timor Leste.

The APF Secretariat recently met with the President and senior government ministers to discuss steps that would assist the Maldives become a full member of the International Coordinating Committee of NHRIs.

Four United Nations agencies and offices will be amalgamated to create a new single entity that will promote the rights and well-being of women worldwide and work towards gender equality.

National human rights institutions have a vital role to play in promoting and protecting human rights defenders, Ms Hina Jilani, a UN expert, told the APF Secretariat earlier this month.

A new organisation to represent Indigenous Australians should be an independent, private body headed by elected representatives, says the Social Justice Commissioner.

The Commission’s new Chairperson plans to bring a collaborative and analytical approach to her six-year term.