Palau consultations highlight broad support for NHRI
Consultations with key stakeholders in Palau have highlighted the important role that an NHRI could play in meeting some of the human rights challenges facing the Pacific Island nation.
Photo: Benjamin Lee
A week-long series of consultations with key stakeholders in Palau has highlighted the important roles that a national human rights institution could play in meeting some of the human rights challenges facing the Pacific Island nation.
Between 1 and 5 August 2011, representatives from the APF, the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS) and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) met with:
- President Johnson Toribiong
- Palau’s Council of Chiefs
- Government ministers
- members of the Olbiil Era Kelulau (Palau National Congress)
- the Governors Association
- members of civil society organisations supporting the rights of persons with disabilities, young people and foreign workers
- journalists and media representatives.
The main aim of the discussions was to collect their views on establishing a national human rights institution and what model would be most appropriate to Palau.
The consultations revealed broad support for the idea and a report will be prepared for the Government of Palau that summarises the key issues raised by stakeholders
The report will also set out a clear roadmap for establishing an independent national human rights institution in line with the international standards set out in the Paris Principles.
The consultations followed a preliminary visit to Palau in April 2011 by the APF and PIFS, in response to an invitation from the Government of Palau to discuss the roles and functions of NHRIs.
An additional component of this visit was to assist the Government prepare for its participation in the Universal Periodic Review (UPR).
As part of its UPR presentation to the United Nations Human Rights Council on 3 May 2011, the Government reported on its work in partnership with the APF.
During the review, a number of States called on Palau to establish a national human rights institution in accordance with the Paris Principles.
Having emerged from United Nations trusteeship in 1994, Palau is one of the world's youngest and smallest sovereign states.
Located in the Pacific Ocean to the east of the Philippines, it has a population of approximately 21,000.
In April 2009, government representatives from Palau and other Pacific Island countries took part in a regional workshop to examine pathways for establishing NHRIs.
Papua New Guinea, Samoa and Nauru are currently taking steps towards this goal.
Date: 19 August 2011
