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APF facilitators develop guidelines for good practice

Graphic: Members of the APF Facilitators Network in discussion

The APF’s network of human rights facilitators has finalised a comprehensive set of guidelines to support the education efforts of NHRIs.

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The APF's network of human rights facilitators has finalised a comprehensive set of guidelines to support the education efforts of national human rights institutions (NHRIs).

The Jakarta Guidelines for Human Rights Facilitators is grounded in the understanding that "effective facilitation seeks to promote genuine and sustained transformation in the way people think, form opinions, make decisions and act".

"This process is most likely to occur when participants are at the centre of the learning process," the Jakarta Guidelines state.

Drafted by members of the APF Facilitators Network – which includes representatives from 16 APF member institutions – the Jakarta Guidelines note that if human rights education is directed towards transformation with individuals and communities, then "the act of facilitating human rights education must also be transformative".

It sets out key principles to guide the practice of human rights facilitation with adult learners, as well as the necessary skills and attitudes of the individual facilitator.


Graphic: Group shot of the APF Facilitators Network; Bangkok, 2018


The Guidelines stress that gender equality must be a key goal of all human rights activities. As such, effective human rights facilitation must ensure that the perspectives and experiences of women and girls are considered when planning, leading and evaluating any activity.

It also describes effective approaches for working with diverse groups, such as religious groups and indigenous peoples' groups.

The Jakarta Guidelines set out a competency framework for effective human rights facilitators, including:

  • Knowledge competencies
  • Technical and professional practice competencies
  • Personal competencies.

"The Jakarta Guidelines and the competency framework are practical tools that can assist anyone developing and leading human rights education programs, advocacy or outreach campaigns," APF Regional Training Manager Kate Turner-Mann said.

"Facilitation is a cross-cutting skill that can be used in many areas of work in an NHRI. These guidelines are designed to support the development of those skills," she said.

The APF Facilitators Network was established following an APF training course – held in Jakarta in December 2017 – to build knowledge and skills in adult-centred learning and facilitation.

Following the training course, participants who were interested in joining the Network were required to develop and lead an activity to strengthen the capacity of staff within their respective NHRIs to respond to a pressing human rights issue or an area of need.

A follow-up workshop was held in Bangkok in September 2018 and, since then, members of the Facilitators Network have continued to collaborate and share ideas using the APF's Learning Community.

Date: 12 June 2019


Image credits

  1. Members of the APF Facilitators Network in discussion - APF/Faso Aishath
  2. Group shot of the APF Facilitators Network; Bangkok, 2018 - APF