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APF to bolster gender mainstreaming in selected NHRIs

Graphic: Young girl in rural village, Sri Lanka

Three APF members will be selected to receive technical support to develop and implement a gender mainstreaming strategy for their NHRI.

Asia Pacific Forum LogoAsia Pacific Forum

Three APF members will be selected to receive technical support as they develop and implement a gender mainstreaming strategy for their national human rights institution (NHRI).

This will include support to undertake a gender audit to determine the extent to which gender is considered in the operations and policies of the NHRI, as well as a training program for NHRI staff on gender analysis and gender mainstreaming.

The program of support will be provided by the APF over two years, as part of our new Gender Mainstreaming Capacity Development Project.


Ensuring gender is considered in all aspects of an NHRI’s work is a critical step in achieving the goal of substantive equality for women and girls.

Asia Pacific Forum Logo Pip Dargan, APF Gender Focal Point

Graphic: Staff of NHRC Nepal celebrate International Women's Day


The capacity development project will commence with a training course on gender mainstreaming for APF members, which will take place in early 2020.

The blended learning course will support our members to conduct gender analysis and apply techniques that ensure gender considerations are included in NHRI policies, functions and operations.

Following the workshop, participants will be invited to develop a gender mainstreaming strategy and action plan for their NHRI, with three selected to receive APF support and advice.

All participants who complete the blended learning course will be invited to join the new APF Gender Network.

In addition, an APF Women Leaders Forum will be established to bring together women Chairpersons and Commissioners from NHRIs in the Asia Pacific region.

The goal is to support and encourage these leaders in their efforts to promote and protect the human rights of women and girls through the work of their NHRIs, as well as strengthen gender mainstreaming within their institutions.


APF secretariat staff meet with Ms Meskerem Techane

On 16 September, the APF secretariat met with the Chairperson - Meskerem Techane - and members of the UN Working Group on Discrimination against Women and Girls. The informal meeting was an opportunity to describe the work of APF members to promote and protect the rights of women and girls. Ms Techane expressed her desire for APF members to share their expertise and contribute to the activities of the Working Group.


Graphic: Girl in the company of women, India

NHRI Guidelines for Mainstreaming the Human Rights of Women and Girls into Our Everyday Work

The guidelines provide practical advice on how NHRIs can promote gender equality in their internal operations and external work (July 2019)


Image credits

  1. Young girl in rural village, Sri Lanka - Robin Noguier on Unsplash
  2. Staff of NHRC Nepal celebrate International Women's Day - National Human Rights Commission of Nepal
  3. APF secretariat staff meet with Ms Meskerem Techane - APF