8th APF Annual Meeting, 2004
Graphic: Boy spinning prayer wheel, Kathmandu
The APF's 8th Annual Meeting was hosted by the National Human Rights Commission of Nepal in 2004.
The 8th Annual Meeting of the APF was officially opened by the Rt. Hon. Surya Bahadur Thapa, Prime Minister of Nepal.
The meeting, hosted by the National Human Rights Commission of Nepal, primarily focused on the rule of law, anti-terrorism measures and the role of national human rights institutions.
Parallel to the annual meeting the APF's Advisory Council of Jurists met to consider a reference on the Rule of Law in Countering Terrorism, before presenting its recommendations during a plenary session on the final day.
Other issues addressed during the three-day meeting included:
- the 'Paris Principles' and the independence of national human rights institutions
- development of a new international disability convention
- activities of APF member institutions in addressing trafficking, the death penalty and child pornography issues
Outcomes of the 8th Annual Meeting included:
Membership
- New Zealand Human Rights Commission reaffirmed as a full member.
- Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission admitted as associate member.
- Palestinian Independent Commission for Citizens' Rights admitted as associate member.
Advisory Council of Jurists
- The Forum Council agreed to develop a reference on the prevention of torture during detention.
Management
- Considered, for the first time, the issue of APF membership fees and agreed to adopt a flat fee of USD $3,000 per full member per annum and USD $1,500 per candidate and associate member per annum, with the possibility that these fees could also be paid 'in kind' by the provision of services to the APF.
- The National Human Rights Commission of Nepal was elected Chairperson of the Forum Council. The National Human Rights Commission of India and the National Human Rights Commission of Korea were elected to the two positions of Deputy Chairpersons.
9th Annual Meeting
- The Forum Council accepted the offer of the National Human Rights Commission of Korea to host the 9th Annual Meeting in 2004.
Meeting papers and presentations
Forum Council Meeting
Membership Review of the New Zealand Human Rights Commission
Membership Application by the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission
Membership Application by the Palestinian Independent Commisison for Human Rights
APF Finance and Administration
Report of the APF Senior Executive Officers Network
10th Anniversary of the Paris Principles
Disability Rights
Update on Proposed UN Disability Convention
Report of APF Working Group on the Ad Hoc Committee Meeting
Balancing Human Rights Protections and National Security Concerns
National Human Rights Commission of India
Indonesian National Commission on Human Rights
National Human Rights Commission of Mongolia
National Human Rights Commission of Korea
Government Statements
Government of Taiwan (Republic of China)
NGO Statements
Joint Statement on Establishing a Regional Human Rights Mechanism
Joint Statement on the Paris Principles
Joint Statement on Disability Rights
Joint Statement on the Prevention of Torture
Joint Statement on the Death Penalty
Joint Statement on Trafficking in Persons
Joint Statement on Human Rights Defenders
NGO Statement on Nepal (APHRN)
NGO Statement on Nepal (INSEC)
NGO Statement on Taiwan (Republic of China)
Image credits
- Boy spinning prayer wheel, Kathmandu - APF/James Iliffe