[Event] Report Launch: Making Institutions Count: Strengthening Support for Women Human Rights Defenders (WHRDs) in Asia by National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs)
21 April 2022 2:36 pm

Date: Thursday, 26 April 2022

Time: 11.00 – 12.30 (GMT+7)

Register here: l.forum-asia.org/WHRDReportLaunch

Live via: Zoom, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter

Across the Asian region, women human rights defenders (WHRDs) have been at the forefront of struggles and movements for securing and advancing human rights for all. While WHRD-led movements have gained traction in recent years, they have been strongly impacted by increasingly repressive and authoritarian political environments. Threats and reprisals against WHRDs have come from both state and non-state actors, and gender-based violence and abuse against them are particularly prevalent.

WHRDs require greater support and recognition by all stakeholders, including National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs), with gender-specific responses and protection measures to create a safe and enabling environment.

Recognising their challenges, the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA), as the Secretariat of the Asian NGO Network on National Human Rights Institutions (ANNI), and the Asia Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institutions (APF), is launching a thematic report “Making Institutions Count: Strengthening Support for WHRDs in Asia by NHRIs”.

Join the discussion on NHRI-led advocacy challenges and milestones on protecting WHRDs in this event.

Speakers: 

  • Karen Gomez-Dumpit, Commissioner, Commission on Human Rights, Philippines
  • Vita Yudhani, Advocacy Officer, The Institute for Policy Research and Advocacy (ELSAM)
  • Ambika Satkunanathan, Fellow, Open Society Foundations; and Former Commissioner, Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka
  • Kieren Fitzpatrick, Director, Asia Pacific Forum (APF)

Moderated by: Shomira Sanyal, NHRI Programme, FORUM-ASIA