APF members will have the opportunity to draw on the insights and experiences of experts and their peers at a workshop that will examine all the key elements of the international accreditation process for national human rights institutions (NHRIs).

Accreditation is vital to the work and standing of NHRIs, said APF Legal and Policy Manager Philip Wardle.

"An NHRI's accreditation outcome determines whether it can independently participate in the work of the UN Human Rights Council," Mr Wardle said.

"It can also strengthen the credibility of the NHRI with its government, civil society organisations and other partners," he said.

The three-day workshop – to be held in Doha, Qatar, in January 2020 – aims to equip APF members with the information and skills they need to engage confidently with GANHRI and its Subcommittee on Accreditation (SCA).

"We want to make sure APF members are as prepared as possible and can put forward a complete picture of their legislation, their work and the steps they have taken to implement previous recommendations made by the SCA," Mr Wardle said.

Panel discussions, simulations and other practical activities will explore four principal topics:

• Understanding the accreditation process, from start to finish
• Preparing a Statement of Compliance and accompanying documentation
• Undertaking the telephone interview with SCA members
• Responding to SCA reports following the accreditation process.

Representatives of APF member institutions that have recently completed the accreditation review process – including the NHRIs of Afghanistan, Palestine and Sri Lanka – will lead a number of workshop sessions.

A representative from GANHRI will also be part of the workshop facilitation team.

The workshop will be open to APF members that are scheduled to undertake an accreditation review in 2020. Two representatives from each NHRI will be invited to attend the workshop.

It is anticipated that this pilot workshop, which is being supported by the APF sub-regional office in Qatar, will be held on an annual basis.