APF Community Contact us
News : Good practice

​New app set to streamline NHRI work

Graphic: Staff of Samoa's NHRI take part in a demonstration of the website application

Samoa Published 15 Nov 2016

The APF and OHCHR are a step closer to launching ‘NHRI Hub’, a website application to support the unique work of national human rights institutions.

The APF and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) are one step closer to the launch of 'NHRI Hub', a website application that will support the unique work of national human rights institutions.

In 2014 Ashley Bowe, then an APF consultant, devised the concept of NHRI Hub following a request by the newly established NHRI in Samoa for a tool to help them undertake their mandate to protect and promote human rights.

His idea has been brought to life thanks to the efforts of developer Les Nightingill, who has volunteered his time over the past 18 months.

The website app contains a number of features:

  • Complaints Management System
  • Strategic Planning Tool
  • Human Rights Indicator Tracking
  • Media Monitor
  • Document Library
  • GANHRI Accreditation Assistant.

NHRI Hub will bring a greater degree of accuracy to what we do and free up more of our time to get to the heart of human rights issues in Samoa.

Ombudsman of Samoa Logo Maiava Iulai Toma, Ombudsman of Samoa

Between 31 October and 10 November 2016, the app was tested in a training program with staff from the Office of the Ombudsman of Samoa. Some areas for improvement were identified and these will be built into the app before its launch in the first half of 2017.

Mr Bowe, now with OHCHR in Samoa, said NHRI Hub will be one of the most comprehensive tools globally when it is released.

"The app is designed in a user friendly manner to allow NHRIs to be able to undertake their work more efficiently, identity trends in human rights violations and better report on their work and outcomes," Mr Bowe said.

The Ombudsman of Samoa described NHRI Hub as a "simple but powerful tool that would allow a more sophisticated approach to our work".

NHRI Hub will be made freely available to all APF member institutions when it is released in 2017. For more information contact Ashley.Bowe@one.un.org.

Date: 15 November 2016

Image credits

  1. Staff of Samoa's NHRI take part in a demonstration of the website application - Ash Bowe/OHCHR