Forum Council
The Forum Council is the decision-making body of the APF. Established by the APF Constitution the Forum Council operates as the APF's 'board of directors'.
The Forum Council sets the APF's policies and priorities, decides membership applications and exercises all the powers set out in the constitution.
The Forum Council is made up of senior representatives from the APF's full member institutions. Each full member nominates one voting councillor to participate on the Forum Council.
Forum Councillors can establish 'committees of councillors' to administer different aspects of the APF's operations. For example, a management committee has been established to oversee the operations of the APF.
They can also establish 'advisory committees' to examine issues and provide opinions and advice to the APF, such as the Advisory Council of Jurists.
Leadership
Forum Councillors elect a Chairperson and two Deputy Chairpersons. The Chairperson acts as the official spokesperson of the APF. These positions are held on a two-year rotating basis.
The host institution of the current APF Biennial Conference is normally elected Chairperson of the Forum Council. The institution that hosted the previous conference and the host institution for the next conference are normally elected Deputy Chairpersons.
The National Human Rights Commission of Thailand currently chairs the Forum Council.
The two Deputy Chairpersons are the Jordan National Human Centre for Human Rights and the National Human Rights Committee of Qatar.
Meetings
The Forum Council meets each year as part of the APF Annual Meeting and on other occasions as required.
A copy of the APF Rules of Procedures for Forum Councillors' Meetings is also available in the Annual Meetings section.
2011 Forum Councillors
Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission
Dr Sima Samar
Australian Human Rights Commission
The Hon. Catherine Branson QC
Australian Human Rights Commission
Ms Padma Raman (non-voting councillor)*
National Human Rights Commission of India
Justice K. G. Balakrishnan
Indonesian National Human Rights Commission
Mr Ifdhal Kasim
Human Rights Commission of Malaysia
Tan Sri Hasmy Agam
National Human Rights Commission of Mongolia
Mr Jamsran Byambadorj
National Human Rights Commission of Nepal
Justice Kedar Nath Upadhyay
Jordan National Centre for Human Rights
Professor Adnan Badran
Human Rights Commission of New Zealand
Mr David Rutherford
Palestinian Independent Commission on Human Rights
Ms Randa Sinora-Attalah
Philippines Commission on Human Rights
Ms Maria Cardona
National Human Rights Committee of Qatar
Mrs Amal Al-Mannai
National Human Rights Commission of Korea
Professor Byung-Chul Hyun
National Human Rights Commission of Thailand
Professor Amara Pongsapich
Timor Leste Office of the Provedor for Human Rights and Justice
Mr Sebastio Dias Ximenes
APF Secretariat
Mr Kieren Fitzpatrick (Secretary)
*As the APF is a company limited by guarantee under the Australian Corporations Law, it is required to have at least two Australian board members. Only one of the Australian Forum Councillors has voting rights.
