NHRIs and Human Rights Defenders

When: 15 – 19 June 2009

Where: Kathmandu, Nepal

Host: National Human Rights Commission of Nepal

Representatives from four APF member institutions will participate in a week-long training program in June to build knowledge and ideas to better support and protect human rights defenders.

Around 25 participants will take part in the workshop, including representatives from the national human rights institutions of India, the Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka, along with the newly established National Human Rights Commission of Bangladesh and a representative from the Ministry of Human Rights of Pakistan.

The workshop aims to assist national human rights institutions  to better understand the role and functions of human rights defenders and the international standards and mechanisms that protect their rights.

It also looks at practical steps that national human rights institutions can take to more effectively promote and protect human rights defenders, as well developing regional partnerships for the protection of human rights defenders in the Asia Pacific.

The interactive training program uses a wide range of learning activities, such as role-plays, debates, group discussions and case studies, to build a core set of knowledge, skills and attitudes.

The Human Rights Defenders training program has been developed in collaboration with the International Service for Human Rights (ISHR).

The training program will be delivered by experienced trainers from the ISHR with additional input from APF staff.