APF Leadership Outreach engagement with the Jordan National Centre for Human Rights

As part of its Leadership Services, the APF held its Chairperson Leadership Outreach program with the Chair of Jordan’s National Centre for Human Rights (NCHR), Ms Samar Khaled al Haj Hassan. 

The meeting, held on 9 March, provided an opportunity for the NHCR and APF to discuss the NCHR's human rights priorities under the leadership of Ms Hassan. Ms Hassan was appointed as Chairperson in October 2022 and is the first woman to hold the role.

The NCHR has an extensive mandate to address a wide range of human rights issues, including violations, complaints, education and promotion, and integrating human rights into legislation and practices. Nonetheless, it operates in a challenging environment, with a multitude of complex human rights issues such as gender inequality, discrimination against minority groups, and limitations on freedom of expression and association.

During the session, Ms. Hassan highlighted the NCHR's ongoing work and key areas of focus, including its commitment to women's rights and gender equality. In response, Pip Dargan, APF Principal Adviser, Leadership Services, provided an overview of the APF's support services for National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs). 

Specifically, Ms Dargan discussed the APF's High-Level Dialogues and Capacity Assessments, which help NHRIs navigate the complex issues they face and strengthen capacities to address these issues. She also shared the APF's work to support NHRIs in mainstreaming gender into their operations, as well as the past work of the APF and NCHR on the Amman Declaration and Programme of Action.

The Amman Declaration and Programme of Action outlines the steps that NHRIs around the globe have agreed to undertake to promote and protect the rights of women and girls. The Declaration was adopted in Amman, Jordan at the 11th International Conference of NHRIs, which was hosted by the NCHR in cooperation with the APF, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI) in 2012. 

The NCHR has been a member of the APF since 2004.  We look forward to its active engagement with APF members as well as collaborating with the institution to further support its leadership and work on gender equality and accreditation.

Date: 2 May 2023