APF response to SAHR statement

The APF acknowledges the statement dated 5 September 2023 by ‘South Asians for Human Rights’ (SAHR) and a joint communication dated 8 September by international NGOs concerning the National Human Rights Commission of India hosting the 28^th Annual General Meeting and Conference of the Asia Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institutions (APF).

It is standard practice that APF members democratically vote on applications from our members to host the APF Annual General Meeting and Biennial Conference. As the Chairperson of SAHR and a number of office holders have held senior appointments in National Human Rights Institutions in South Asia, they would be aware of this practice. 

On 9 September 2020, APF members voted to accept the invitation from the National Human Rights Commission of India to hold the 2021 APF Annual General Meeting and Conference in India. Due to continuing COVID-19 restrictions, the implementation of this decision has been deferred for the last two years, which has resulted in the NHRC India hosting the AGM this year.

I hope you will understand these circumstances.

~ Kieren Fitzpatrick, Director, Asia Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institutions