Intersecting Themes
In the past few years APWLD has engaged with other mandate holders whose mandates intersect with the annual theme of our consultations. We have held consultations involving the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous people, the Special Rapporteur on adequate housing, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, the Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants and the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery, its causes and consequences.
We intend to continue taking an intersectional approach to rights violation by organising joint consultations with the UN Special Procedures mandate holders.

National consultations with the UN Special Rapporteurs
Where possible, APWLD works with local members to hold national consultations with the UNSRs following the regional consultation.  These national consultations provide an opportunity for local and national women’s NGOs to take advantage of the SRs’ presence in a particular country to raise country specificities of violence against women and lobby governments for actions to advance women’s human rights. Significant commitments have been made where governments have met with the SR and participants in the past including: Commitment to amend criminal laws to criminalise marital rape in Thailand; commitment to adopt a National Action Plan on combating domestic violence in Mongolia; participants in Indonesia used the SRs recommendations to successfully campaign for the Domestic Violence Act in Indonesia; commitment to place women personnel in immigration detention with women detainees in Thailand.

Developing reports and campaigns for change
Regional consultations are thematic. Themes may be chosen from either the annual theme of the SRs report or a theme agreed to by APWLD and the SR. APWLD conducts research on the theme prior to the consultation and speakers submit papers on the country situation relating to the theme. During the consultation participants agree on key recommendations for change required to realise women’s rights around that theme at country, regional and international level. A report is prepared that can then be used as a vehicle for advocacy. In 2009 the report was launched at the UN CSW meeting in New York with speakers who attended the consultation on Sexual and Reproductive rights presenting the findings at a side meeting.

Strengthening the mechanism
APWLD has significant familiarity with the Special Mechanisms of the UN. We contribute to key debates about the mechanism and the importance of strengthening the mandates. We published the 15 year review of the SR VAW’s work and held an event with her to review her work with Permanent Representatives of the UN Human Rights Council. In 2010 we held a side event at the annual meeting of the SRs to initiate systematised integration of gender into the mandates. In 2010 – 2011 we plan to contribute to the review of the Human Rights Council bringing a focus to the Special Mechanisms. We will conduct a survey of mandate holders to review their collaboration with civil society, gender integration and limitations on their effectiveness. We believe that more should be done to ensure the Special Procedures integrate women’s human rights into their mandate and missions. We have begun discussions with UNHCHR and other key stakeholders to develop a directive (or guide) on integrating gender into the UN Special Procedures with a view to it being finalised in 2012-13.