APF shares ideas, skills with African colleagues
Building an effective secretariat that can support and strengthen member institutions was the focus of discussions when the APF met with colleagues at the newly established Network of African National Human Rights Institutions in Kenya earlier this month.
Building an effective secretariat that can support and strengthen the work of member institutions was the focus of discussions when the Asia Pacific Forum (APF), met with colleagues at the newly established Network of African National Human Rights Institutions (NANHRI) in Kenya earlier this month.
The visit was the second part of a two-phase capacity building program and follows a two-week study program in March this year when the APF Secretariat hosted NANHRI Director, Mr Gilbert Sebihogo, and Office Administrator, Ms Flavia Mwangovya.
“Member-based organisations like the APF and NANHRI have a very significant role to play in advancing human rights in their respective regions,” said Pip Dargan, Deputy Director of the APF Secretariat.
“This includes providing advice to governments on the establishment of national human rights institutions, developing and implementing technical cooperation projects, undertaking research on key human rights issues and sharing information and skills with members and other partner organisations.
“A strong and sustainable secretariat is essential in order to deliver positive outcomes for member institutions and other stakeholders,” she said.
Discussions during the three-day visit looked at developing and fostering relationships between the NANHRI Secretariat, its member institutions and other stakeholders; strategic planning; fundraising and donor liaision; internal management; and communication and promotion.
More than 30 national human rights institutions currently make up the membership of the NANHRI.
According to Mr Sebihogo, cultural diversity and the language divide are two key challenges facing the secretariat during its establishment phase. “We will also need to develop a sufficient funding base to allow us to meet the expectations and needs of our member institutions,” he said.
Mr Sebihogo said the advisory visit also served to further strengthen important ties with colleagues from the APF.
“Regional coordinating bodies like ours have a critical role to play at the international level, as they provide an important link between their members and the International Coordinating Committee,” he said.
“A strong and collaborative relationship between our two organisations means we can exchange information and ideas before making important decisions.”
The two-stage capacity building project was funded by the Raoul Wallenberg Institute.
