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Contributing at the national, regional & international level

Graphic: Delegates at the ICC meeting, Geneva

Promoting genuine and sustained change on human rights issues is complex and long-term work. It requires the expertise of many organisations working together.

To contribute to this change, national human rights institutions (NHRIs) work with a broad range of stakeholders, including the government, the parliament, the judiciary, civil society groups, international partners and the media.

Our members also seek to raise human rights issues and advocate for practical changes with the international human rights system and with regional bodies that exist.

The APF supports members in this important work by building understanding among governments in the Asia Pacific about the unique role of independent NHRIs. We also advocate strongly on behalf of our members when they face reprisals for their work or threats to their independence.

In addition, we work to promote greater recognition and participation of NHRIs at the international and regional levels, as well as contribute the collective voice of our members to discussions in these fora.

The APF and our individual members also contribute strongly to the work of the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions.


Graphic: Two women smiling at camera, India

NHRIs to be formally included in work of UN panel on ageing

The valuable expertise that NHRIs can contribute to global discussions of human rights has been recognised in a landmark decision.


Graphic: Meeting of representatives from APF members

Engaging with the international human rights system

This video forms part of a comprehensive APF training program for staff of national human rights institutions


The APF has a vital role to play in safeguarding national human rights institutions when they are under attack and speaking out against those acts of reprisal.

International Service for Human Rights Logo Phil Lynch, Director, International Service for Human Rights

Image credits

  1. Delegates at the ICC meeting, Geneva - APF/James Iliffe