ACJ – Advisory Council of Jurists

The ACJ is a group of eminent jurists which advises the APF on the interpretation and application of international human rights law. Since it was established in 1998, the ACJ has examined a wide range of human rights issues, including the death penalty, torture, trafficking, terrorism and the right to a healthy environment.

Find out more about the Advisory Council of Jurists

APF – Asia Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institutions

The APF is the leading regional human rights organisation in the Asia Pacific. Established in 1996, the APF supports the establishment and strengthening of national human rights institutions by providing training, networking and sharing of resources.

Find out more about the APF

ASEAN – Association of South East Asian Nations

ASEAN is a regional organisation made up of ten member countries: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. In November 2007 ASEAN leaders signed an historic agreement to establish a regional human rights body.

Find out more about the proposed ASEAN Human Rights Mechanism

IDP – Internally Displaced Persons

Internally displaced persons are people forced to flee their homes because of conflict or natural disasters but who, unlike refugees, remain within their country's borders.In the Asia Pacific region there are approximately 3.6 million internally displaced persons.

Find out more about Internally Displaced Persons

NGOs – Non-governmental organisations

NGOs are voluntary groups of citizens, organised on a local, national or international scale. NGOs in the human rights field perform a wide variety of roles, including seeking to promote, protect and advocate on a range of human rights issues. The APF and its member institutions have strong working relationships with a wide range of national, regional and international NGOs.

NHRI – National Human Rights Institution

NHRIs are official bodies established by national governments by law or constitution with the specific role of promoting and protecting human rights in their country. Common functions of NHRIs include: receiving and investigating complaints; reviewing national laws, policies and programmes; monitoring the human rights performance of governments; and public education.

Find out more about National Human Rights Institutions

OHCHR – Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights

The OHCHR is the United Nations office with primary responsibility for promoting and protecting the enjoyment and full realisation of human rights for all people. The APF works in close partnership with the National Institutions Unit of the OHCHR to develop and deliver a range of capacity building projects in the Asia Pacific region.

Find out more about the OHCHR

‘Paris Principles’

The ‘Principles Relating to the Status and Functions of National Institutions for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights’ – commonly known as the ‘Paris Principles’ – set out the minimum standards required by national human rights institutions to effectively fulfil their role.

Find out more about the Paris Principles

SEO Network – Senior Executive Officers Network

The Senior Executive Officers Network, coordinated by the APF, provides regular opportunities for the senior management of national human rights institutions in the Asia Pacific to meet, share information and expertise and to communicate with each other about the APF’s regional projects.

Find out more about the SEO Network

UDHR – Universal Declaration of Human Rights

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights sets out in 30 articles the fundamental rights of all people. Adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948, the UDHR is the foundation of contemporary international human rights law.

Find out more about the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

UN – United Nations

Established in 1945, the United Nations aims to build cooperation between its 192 member states in areas such as international law, international security, economic development, social progress and human rights. The United Nations is led by its Secretary-General, currently Mr Ban Ki-moon of South Korea.

Find out more about the United Nations

UPR – Universal Periodic Review

The Universal Periodic Review is a review of the human rights practices of all 192 member states of the United Nations. The UPR is undertaken by the United Nations Human Rights Council, with each member state being reviewed every four years.

Find out more about the Universal Periodic Review