The Asia Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institutions (APF) continues to invest in strengthening the institutional capacity of its members to advance gender equality as a core human rights priority. As part of this commitment, APF supported the Fiji Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Commission (FHRADC) to undertake a comprehensive gender audit between February and April 2026.

The audit was initiated at the request of the FHRADC as an important step in deepening its institutional approach to gender equality and responding to earlier capacity assessment findings. It reflects a growing recognition across the region that NHRIs must embed gender-responsive approaches not only in their external work, but also within their internal systems, structures and culture.

APF facilitated the audit using its dedicated resource, Facilitating an NHRI Gender Audit: A Toolkit for National Human Rights Institutions in the Asia Pacific, applying a participatory and context-sensitive methodology. This ensured that the process was not externally imposed, but rather grounded in the realities of the FHRADC’s operating environment. 

The audit drew on multiple sources of evidence, including staff surveys, in-depth interviews, focus group discussions and a review of key organisational documents. This mixed-methods approach created space for diverse perspectives across the institution and ensured that the findings were informed by both qualitative insights and organisational data. Strong participation across these processes highlighted the commitment of FHRADC leadership and staff to reflect on their practices and strengthen their work on gender equality.

This initiative demonstrates the value of sustained, partnership-based support in building the effectiveness of NHRIs. By combining technical expertise with inclusive, locally grounded processes, APF is supporting its members to move beyond commitments to gender equality towards practical, system-wide change. The FHRADC gender audit is one example of how targeted capacity development can strengthen institutions to better promote and protect the human rights of all people. 

APF will continue working alongside the FHRADC as it translates the audit findings into action, ensuring that gender equality is integrated across its mandate and contributes to more inclusive and effective human rights outcomes in Fiji and the wider region.