Human rights study tour for Pacific partners

Two representatives from the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Secretariat recently concluded a three-week human rights study program, which included visits to New Zealand, Australia and Malaysia.

Mr Frederick Miller and Ms Joanne Lee Kunatuba met with Commissioners and staff of the New Zealand and Australian human rights commissions to discuss the ways in which national human rights institutions (NHRIs) promote and protect the rights of women and people with disabilities.

They also visited the APF Secretariat in Sydney to learn about regional approaches to advancing human rights issues, as well as attending the APF Annual Meeting in Kuala Lumpur.

Fredrick Miller, Disability Coordination Officer with the PIF Secretariat since 2006, said the study tour provided him with new insights and perspectives.

“It has given me a greater understanding of how human rights issues are dealt with at the national level and the regional level,” he said.

“I’ve seen how important it is to share information and ideas on human rights. I’ve also seen the important role that national human rights commissions play in promoting the rights of people with disabilities to government and the community.”

As Gender Issues Officer, Joanne Lee Kunatuba is currently working with other development organisations in the region to develop strategies that will encourage and advance women’s representation in Pacific Parliaments.

Along with meeting colleagues from the Australian and New Zealand commissions, she said the discussions about the Universal Periodic Review process at the APF Annual Meeting were particularly helpful.

“While this reporting mechanism deals with all the UN human rights conventions, it will also encourage Pacific Governments to take stock on how they are doing in relation to the rights of women under CEDAW and whether they commit either to reporting, ratifying or amending domestic legislation,” she said.

Promoting human rights and establishing national and regional protection mechanisms is a key component of the Pacific Plan, adopted by the 16-member Pacific Islands Forum in 2005. The Pacific Plan identifies the APF and its member national human rights institutions as key partners in this work.

“Study programs like this are a practical way we can support the PIF Secretariat to build its human rights capacity so that it can provide advice and services to its member States,” said Kieren Fitzpatrick, Director of the APF Secretariat.

The PIF Secretariat study tour was coordinated by the New Zealand Human Rights Commission and funded as part of a broader NZAID capacity building project.