Governance

The APF is a member-based organisation made up of national human rights institutions in the region. We currently have 17 members, representing countries from all parts of the Asia Pacific.

Our organisation operates as an independent, non-profit legal entity, with a ‘board of directors’ – the Forum Council – that reflects the APF’s broad regional diversity.

The key elements of the APF’s organisational structure are:

• The Forum Council is the decision-making body of the APF. Established by the APF Constitution, the Forum Council is comprised of one voting councillor nominated by each full member. It sets the APF’s policies and priorities, decides membership applications and exercises all the powers set out in the constitution.

• Forum Councillors can establish ‘committees of councillors’ to administer different aspects of the APF’s operations. A management committee has been established to oversee the operations of the APF.

• The APF Secretariat is responsible for implementing the decisions of the Forum Council. The Director of the Secretariat reports to the Chairperson of the Forum Council on a regular basis and to the Forum Councillors through the management committee.

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.

Mission, Vision and Objectives

Mission

APF member institutions believe that regional cooperation and coordination is essential to protect and promote the human rights of the peoples of the Asia Pacific. Through the APF their collective efforts are focused on supporting the effective and efficient promotion of their respective mandates and the establishment and strengthening of new NHRIs in full conformity with the Paris Principles.

Vision

The APF will be the pre-eminent regional human rights organisation in the Asia Pacific by:

• promoting effective international, regional and national cooperation and coordination

• being representative of its membership and responsive to their needs

• strengthening the capacity of its membership to protect and promote human rights

• securing sufficient funding for its activities, and

• being the best managed organisation in its class.

Objectives

To achieve our mission and vision, the APF will:

• respond to the needs of member institutions through the delivery of practical support projects

• assist in the establishment and strengthening of NHRIs in the region in full compliance with the Paris Principles

• promote international, regional and sub-regional cooperation and coordination

• seek a sustained partnership with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and all relevant United Nations agencies

• be representative of the region in the organisation, participation and implementation of its activities

• strengthen its capacity to meet the needs of its growing membership

• achieve a sufficient level of funding

• ensure that the organisation and its activities are administered effectively.