References

The Advisory Council of Jurists (ACJ) provides independent advice to the APF on the interpretation and application of international human rights law to the pressing issues of the region.

The APF’s Forum Council determines the issues that are referred to the ACJ for its consideration. The Terms of Reference, a Background Paper and other supporting information for each issue are prepared for the ACJ by the APF Secretariat.

The ACJ normally meets to consider each reference in conjunction with the APF annual meeting. It presents an Interim Report for consideration by the Forum Council, before completing its Final Report.

The ACJ reports provide a thorough examination of each issue, as well as practical recommendations to assist APF members protect and promote human rights in their own countries and in partnership across the region.

The reports have also brought about broader change. For example, its report on the death penalty (2000) was used by the Fiji Human Rights Commission to abolish the death penalty in the Fiji Penal Code, while its report on terrorism (2004) was used by the New Zealand Court of Appeal in a decision about the continued detention of a person considered a ‘national security risk’.