Women's human rights
The APF Regional Workshop on Women and International Human Rights: The Role of National Human Rights Institutions was hosted by the Fiji Human Rights Commission and held in Suva Fiji from 5-7 May 2000.
The purpose of the workshop was to promote better understanding and observance of the international human rights of women in the Asia Pacific region. The specific objectives of the workshop were to:
- strengthen existing human rights institutions in the region, with a special focus on the Pacific and stimulate interest in developing new human rights institutions in the Pacific sub-region;
- promote effective cooperation and collaboration between the APF, national human rights institutions and national and regional human rights NGOs on issues relating to the rights of women;
- initiate steps by national institutions to ensure improved recognition of the rights of women within national institutions, both through appropriate structures and effective mechanisms and through relevant training programs for staff and members; and
- encourage the development of a joint project by national institutions and NGOs to combat trafficking in the region;
The workshop was opened by Prime Minister of the Fiji Islands, the Hon Mr Mahendra P Chaudhry. Other keynote speakers included the Chairperson of the Fiji Commission on Human Rights, Mr Justice Kepa, the Special Adviser to the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mr Brian Burdekin, and Justice Dame Silvia Cartwright, Committee Member, CEDAW and member of the New Zealand High Court.
Workshop participants included APF members, non-government organisations, governments and the OHCHR. Particular efforts were made to facilitate participation from governments and NGOs in the Pacific sub-region.
The workshop was co-sponsored by the OHCHR and financially supported by the OHCHR, the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT), and the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID).
