1. UNDP engagement with NHRIs in the Asia Pacific
UNDP Asia Pacific Regional Centre
August 2010

2.   UNDP strategic plan, 2008-2011 Accelerating global progress on human development
Inclusive Participation
Strengthening Responsive Governing Institutions
Grounding Democratic Governance in International Principles
“…UNDP will respond to requests from national partners to build national institutional capacity for implementing human rights, gender equality and anti-corruption standards appropriate in each context.” (para 91, p 28)

3. UNDP APRC activities on Human Rights
With the support of the UNDP Global Human Rights Strengthening Programme, the UNDP Asia Pacific Regional Centre has been focusing its HR activities in the region on:
Strengthening capacities of NHRIs to deliver on their mandates
Supporting the Regional Consortium on Human Rights Based- Access to Justice
Strengthening engagement with the International Human Rights Machinery (including regional mechanisms such as the AICHR)
Strengthening indigenous peoples organisations and the UN to integrate international standards on indigenous peoples into their work

4. UNDP Support to NHRIs in the Asia Pacific Region
Capacity assessment initiative with OHCHR and APF – assessments completed in Malaysia and the Maldives.
2010 – CA will be conducted in Jordan and Thailand
NHRI-CSO workshop - In November 2010 OHCHR and UNDP will be hosting a workshop on NHRI-CSO engagement with international HR machinery to strengthen national HR protection
Capacity assessment of the Philippines human rights infrastructure – Sector-wide assessment in partnership with the Commission on Human Rights of the Philippines ( )
Asian Regional Consortium on Human Rights-based Access to Justice – Participation of NHRIs in the Consortium

5. UNDP support for NHRIs and the National Level
Partnerships with NHRIs on many of the UNDP access to justice projects
Some projects focussed on capacity development of NHRIs include:
Bangladesh (UNDP Project )
Maldives (UN Joint Project )
Nepal (OHCHR-UNDP Project )
Sri Lanka (UN Joint Project on Human Rights )
Timor Leste (OHCHR-UNDP )

6. Partnerships with NHRIs
Some examples of UNDP partnerships with NHRIs:
Implementing partner in the Philippines for UNDP governance projects
Partner in the UNDP Access to Justice Project in Mongolia (implement and comply with UN HR Conventions, implement NHRAP, improveA2J of disadvantaged groups)
Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka as part of the Working Group for the UNDP Equal Access to Justice Project
Engagement with the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission in capacity development of the Human Rights Support Unit at the Ministry of Justice through the UNDP Justice and Human Rights in Afghanistan Project

7. Capacity Development Support for NHRIs
Institutional Capacity Development
Human Resources Capacity Development
Capacity Development for Monitoring, Investigation and Complaints Handling
Capacity Development for Research, Legal Review and Analysis and Policy Advice
Capacity Development for Human Rights Education and Awareness
Support for Strengthening NHRI-CSO Collaboration

8. Conclusion
Two sets of Paris Principles - Paris Principles – Principles relating to the Status of National Institutions - and Paris Declaration – Aid effectiveness and national ownership
E.g. Afghanistan Human Rights Commission insistence on control over its budget
The NHRI Capacity Assessments strengthens ownership and assists in decision making
E.g. Assessment would have identified the importance of provincial officers for the Mongolian Human Rights Commission (as eyes and ears of the Commission)