Promoting and protecting the rights of women and girls

Women and girls in all countries across the Asia Pacific are at risk of serious violations of their human rights, such as gender-based violence and harassment.

Entrenched roles, attitudes and stereotypes also mean that many experience poverty, discrimination and unequal access to health services and the education and justice systems.

National human rights institutions (NHRIs) in the Asia Pacific region have made a commitment to take concrete steps to advance gender equality and to promote and protect the human rights of women and girls in their respective countries.

The APF's blended learning training course provides staff and Commissioners from our member institutions with the skills and knowledge to lead genuine and sustained change.

The five-week online course includes readings, presentations and discussions on:

• International standards relevant to the rights of women and girls
• Practical action that NHRIs can take to promote and protect the rights of women and girls
• Opportunities to engage with international and regional human rights mechanisms
• Special issues of focus, including reproductive rights; violence against women and girls; and the rights of female migrant domestic workers
• Integrating a focus on gender equality into the work and operations of NHRIs.

All participants who successfully complete the online component attend a face-to-face workshop, which provides opportunities for them to deepen their knowledge, consolidate their skills and share examples of good practice.

As part of the workshop, participants develop a set of practical "action points" to promote and protect the rights of women and girls in relation to a specific issue, for implementation by their NHRIs.

This training program underpins one of the APF's strategic priorities to promote gender equality.

PAST PROGRAMS

The APF has delivered:

• A capacity development course for NHRI staff and Commissioners on Gender Equality for NHRIs.
• APF Pacific Roundtable for staff of NHRIs and other stakeholders, concluding with the adoption of the Apia Statement, 4-5 September 2018
• Workshop for West Asian NHRIs, 5-6 February 2018
• National training program with the National Human Rights Commission of India, 30 October-2 November 2017
• Blended learning course with the Commission on Human Rights of the Philippines, October 2016-January 2017
• Blended learning course with South Asian NHRIs (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka), January-April 2015