The Ombudsman for Human Rights and Justice (PDHJ), represented by Deputy Ombudsman Rigoberto Monteiro, recently highlighted crucial gender equality issues at the 29th Annual General Meeting of the Asia Pacific Forum (APF) of National Human Rights Institutions in Bangkok, Thailand, emphasizing their significance within the broader context of human rights in Timor-Leste.
The meeting focused on three critical issues: Gender Equality, Environment and Climate Change, and mechanisms to defend human rights defenders in civic spaces.
During the first session, active members elected the leadership of the APF committee, which includes representatives from Jordan, South Korea, Pakistan, the Philippines, and Indonesia. The Jordanian Human Rights Commissioner, Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein was elected as President, while Atnike Nova Sigiro from Indonesia’s KOMNASHAM was elected as Vice President.
In the second session, APF members presented their countries’ progress, challenges, and obstacles related to gender equality, climate change, and the protection of human rights defenders.
In his presentation, Deputy Ombudsman Monteiro focused on gender equality, discussing the progress and challenges faced by Timor-Leste in promoting this crucial issue. He also highlighted PDHJ’s initiatives aimed at enhancing gender equality within the country. PDHJ expressed its full support for KOMNASHAM Indonesia’s candidacy for the leadership committee of the APF.
Deputy Ombudsman Monteiro extended gratitude to the APF secretariat and congratulated the newly elected leadership for the upcoming two-year term.
The meeting provided an opportunity for the Forum Council and APF members to review the organization’s performance over the past year, addressing issues such as the accreditation status of members, membership applications, official elections, and the approval of annual audit accounts.
The Annual General Meeting of the APF is a legal requirement for the organization and serves as a platform for discussing essential governance issues.
Before the Annual General Meeting on September 24, 2024, Deputy Ombudsman Monteiro participated in a coordination meeting with Southeast Asian region members of SENAF, affirming positions particularly concerning the candidacies of the Philippines, Indonesia, and Malaysia for APF leadership.
The 29th Annual General Meeting saw participation from 26 member institutions, including PDHJ Timor-Leste, the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission, the Australian Human Rights Commission, and many others from across the Asia Pacific region.
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