ASIA PACIFIC FORUM (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – IR)

Context: Recently, the President of India inaugurated the Annual General Meeting and Biennial Conference of the Asia Pacific Forum on Human Rights in New Delhi.

Asia Pacific Forum

• About: It has created a strong and united platform that brings together National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) from all corners of the Asia Pacific.
• Founded: In 1996
• Members: 17 full members, and 8 associate members

oIndia has been a full-time member since 1996.

• National Human Rights Institutions that partially comply with the Paris Principles are granted associate membership.
• Decisions about the admission of new members to the APF are made by the Forum Council.
• Objective: To promote the establishment of independent NHRIs in the Asia Pacific region and to support our members to do their work as effectively as possible.

Paris Principles of Human Rights

• About: It was defined at the first International Workshop on National Institutions for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights held in Paris in 1991.
• Adopted by: By the United Nations Human Rights Commission by Resolution 1992/54 of 1992, and by the UN General Assembly.
• Aim: To regulate to the status and functioning of national institutions for the protection and promotion of human rights known as National Human Rights Institutions.