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APF members to elect new Governance Committee

Graphic: Dr. Ali Bin Samikh Al Marri, Chairperson the Qatari NHRI, addresses APF 24

Elections will be held at the APF Annual Meeting – to be conducted entirely online – for a number of key governance and representative roles.

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Elections will be held at the upcoming APF Annual Meeting for a number of key governance and representative roles.

Voting will be held for the five-member Governance Committee, with a selection process that seeks to reflect the APF's regional diversity and promote gender equality.

The role of the five-member APF Governance Committee is to consider and make recommendations to the APF General Assembly on a range of issues.

The APF Governance Committee is elected by Forum Councillors, representing 'A status' national human rights institutions in the Asia Pacific region.

Forum Councillors also elect a Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson to lead the Governance Committee. The Chairperson of the Governance Committee automatically serves as APF Chairperson for the following two-year period.

The current APF Governance Committee, elected in 2018, comprises the NHRIs of Australia, Mongolia, India, Jordan and Qatar.

In addition, an election will be held for an 'alternate' member to represent the Asia Pacific region on the GANHRI Bureau.

Finally, a vote will be held to determine the location of the APF's 26th Annual Meeting and Biennial Conference in 2021.


Graphic: Participants at APF 24


For the first time in the organisation's history, the APF Annual Meeting on 9 September 2020 will be held as a virtual event.

"As a membership body that spans the most populous and diverse region on the planet, we know how important it is to come together to share experiences and support each other," Kieren Fitzpatrick, Director of the APF secretariat said.

"Despite the travel restrictions imposed by COVID-19, this year's annual meeting will still be an opportunity to reflect on the achievements of our members, as well as determination they have shown in responding to the many human rights issues that have arisen during the pandemic."

The APF 25 meeting papers are available on the APF website.

Date: 26 August 2020


Image credits

  1. Dr. Ali Bin Samikh Al Marri, Chairperson the Qatari NHRI, addresses APF 24 - APF/ National Human Rights Commission of Korea
  2. Participants at APF 24 - APF/National Human Rights Commission of Korea