Asia Pacific Forum (APF) praised the initiative of National Human Rights Commission Oman (NHRCO) to translate the media guide and the guide of NHRI members in the APF into Arabic. Mr. Karen Fitzpatrick, APF executive chairman, expressed her delight about this initiative that will enable Arabic speaking individuals benefit from both guides.
The forum also discussed number of human rights issues such as the report of the UN special rapporteur, Mr. Michael Forest, on the status of Human Rights Defenders (HRDs) in Asia and Pacific area. The forum’s recommendations included the need for respect of the national laws by HRDs as long as they fulfill their rights as per the international conventions, and the importance of a prompt reply from the states party regarding the APF visits to them to observe the status of HRDs therein.
Moreover, the event included discussion sessions about the role of NHRIs to encourage the governments to join the Convention on Combatting Torture and establish mechanisms to monitor any violations in this regard. In addition, some NHRIs that were participating shared their experience of amending national legislations and laws in relation to combating torture.
At the forum, Dr. Moosa Brezat, Commissioner-General of the Jordanian Center for Human Rights, was elected as a representative member of APF in the International Coordinating Committee. The candidates also agreed to select the Mongolian Human rights Committee as a member in the Business and Human Rights Committee. Similarly, the Afghani Human Rights Committee was voted to host APF 2017.
During the meeting, the participants explored the outcomes of a study about raising funds for human rights projects, agreed on the APF strategic plan, agreed on the need to review the decision-making mechanisms, as well as the right of the NHRIs, with lower status than A, to host APF meetings and vote on the issues being discussed.
NHRCO delegation that participated in the forum was presided by Lawyer/ Ahmed Saif Al Barwani, accompanied by Dr. Obaid Said Al Shaqsi, NHRCO general secretary.
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