New APF network to strengthen gender equality

A newly-established professional network featuring representatives from nine APF members will share and champion good practices by national human rights institutions (NHRIs) to advance gender equality in the Asia Pacific region.

The first meeting of the APF Gender Network, held online on 29 September 2020, brought together senior staff members from the NHRIs of Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nepal, Palestine, the Philippines, Samoa and Timor Leste.

The Network is made up of participants from the APF course on Mainstreaming the Human Rights of Women and Girls, which took place earlier this year.

"NHRIs can be genuine leaders by promoting gender equality in both the work they do and how they do it," APF Gender Focal Point Aishath Fasoha said.

"We are excited to convene this Network as it will allow participants to further develop their skills and encourage each other in their work on gender mainstreaming and gender specialisation," she said.

"Our goal is to equip a new group of NHRI leaders with the capacity and technical skills to drive organisational change on gender equality."

The first meeting of the APF Gender Network will discuss the process for conducting a gender audit of an NHRI. Participants will also provide feedback on a toolkit being developed by the APF to support NHRIs to conduct a gender audit.

Meetings of the Network will be held on a regular basis to ensure there are ongoing opportunities for learning and collaboration.

The establishment of APF Gender Network builds on other APF initiatives, including publication of the Guidelines for Mainstreaming the Human Rights of Women and Girls into Our Everyday Work in July 2019.

In July 2020, the APF published The Impact of COVID-19 on Women and Girls, which draws on the experiences of nine NHRIs in the region since the start of the pandemic in March.

Date: 29 September 2020