Going public: new training resource on national inquiries
A new APF training resource provides national human rights institutions with a practical ‘how to’ guide for running effective public inquiries.
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A new APF training resource provides national human rights institutions with a practical ‘how to’ guide for running effective public inquiries.
Going Public explains how the inquiry process can be used to address systemic discrimination and human rights violations.
It explores a range of practical issues, such as selecting the inquiry subject, setting the terms of reference, appointing the Inquiry team, collecting evidence and ensuring the inquiry has sufficient resources.
The DVD also looks at the importance of engaging the media at each stage of the inquiry process, as well as planning follow-up activities to promote the inquiry’s findings and advocate for its recommendations.
Going Public draws on the experiences of national human rights commissions across the Asia Pacific and the lessons learnt from holding public inquiries into a broad spectrum of issues.
These include inquiries examining torture (Mongolia), the rights of internally displaced people (Thailand), starvation deaths (India), access to health and education in remote communities (Australia) and access to public transport for people with disabilities (New Zealand).
Many national human rights institutions have found public inquiries to be one of the most effective tools they have for addressing systemic discrimination and violations of human rights.
“A public inquiry allows you to reach out into the community, you can involve the media and it provides a comprehensive approach for examining a complex human rights issue,” says Rosslyn Noonan, Chief Commissioner of the New Zealand Human Rights Commission.
The DVD, which runs for 40 minutes, will be used as part of the new National Inquiries training program, to be presented jointly by the APF and the Raoul Wallenberg Institute.
The pilot sub-regional training program will be run in India from 29 October to 2 November.
Copies of the Going Public: Strategies for an Effective National Inquiry are available free of charge by contacting Pip Dargan at the APF.
The DVD was produced by Michael Power of Afterglow Productions.
