New approach aims to build strong NHRIs

The APF is joining forces with the regional office of the UN Development Program (UNDP) to trial an innovative capacity needs assessment project to support national human rights institutions (NHRIs) in the Asia Pacific.

The project aims to develop a new approach that will see NHRIs and UNDP country teams undertake their own needs assessments and then share their ideas in order to identify achievable and sustainable steps to build the capacity of national institutions.

“UNDP country offices have long provided technical and financial assistance to help establish and strengthen national human rights institutions. In many countries they have been vital conduits for international support for NHRIs,” said Chris Sidoti, who is representing the APF on the joint project.

“Often, however, this support has been provided on an ad hoc basis, without a thorough understanding of the capacity development needs of the national institution.

“Indeed, NHRIs themselves can also work without that understanding. They undertake strategic planning exercises and develop and adopt good programs for action but may not adequately assess their capacity to implement their plans,” he said.

The APF-UNDP joint project will seek to address these deficits. The goal is to develop robust capacity needs assessment instruments and procedures that can be easily taken and implemented at the national level elsewhere.

Pilot assessment projects will be conducted in three APF member institutions, with the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM) offering itself for the first pilot assessment. The joint APF-UNDP team will visit Kuala Lumpur from 24 to 26 September to begin the assessment, with a full assessment to be undertaken in December.

A regional workshop with representatives from all national institutions in the region will be held early in 2009 to discuss the lessons learnt from this first assessment and to adapt the framework for the following two assessments.

“This joint project is an important initiative that will provide a more solid basis for international support for national institutions and for the institutions themselves to develop and work more effectively,” said Mr Sidoti.

The UNDP team includes representatives from the justice and human rights section and the capacity development section.