At the Asia Regional Human Rights Defenders Forum, APWLD initiated this tribute to Hina Jilani to show our appreciation for her work promoting and protecting HRDs during her two terms as the UN Special Representative on Human Rights Defenders

APWLD and Forum Asia co-organised a Consultation with the UN Special Representative on Human Rights Defenders, Hina Jilani on the theme “Towards Full Implementation of the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders in Asia – Strengthening the Role of Human Rights Defenders (HRD)”. For two days, human rights defenders from Asia along with those from other continents, and representatives of regional and international NGOs engaged in dialogue with the UN’s Special Representative of the Secretary General on Human Rights Defenders, Ms Hina Jilani. Also present in this dialogue were representatives of Asian and other governments and national human rights institutions, as well as UN staff from Geneva and the region. They shared in discussions on the challenges facing human rights defenders in the region and the role of various actors in promoting and protecting the rights of defenders. The HRD Forum was attended by more than 180 participants.

The forum paid tribute to human rights defenders who had laid down their lives for the cause of human rights, as well as defenders who have been, and continue to be, subjected to threats, harassment and attacks due to their human rights work. In the discussions, participants shared about the continued reprisals they face at the hand of both state and non-state actors, such as arbitrary executions, arbitrary detention, torture, disappearances, and restrictions on freedoms of expression, association and assembly. Participants and presenters also highlighted the specific vulnerabilities and risks faced by defenders living in exile, in addition to women, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender defenders.

28-29 November 2006 Bangkok, Thailand Participants of the Asia Regional Human Rights Defenders Forum

After a multilateral dialogue in plenary as well as in breakout sessions, defenders urged national human rights institutions and the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights - in particular, national field offices and sub-regional focal points - to strengthen the role of protecting human rights defenders. Defenders recognised recommendations made by the UN Special Representative on Human Rights Defenders and called on governments to implement these recommendations, and to cooperate with the Special Representative.

On the 29th November afternoon, APWLD organised a special event to mark the first International Women Human Rights Defenders Day. During this event participants listened to testimonies of women from various Asian countries on their struggle and visions for moving forward and listened to songs of the resistance of women. The need for special attention and protection mechanisms for women defenders was highlighted in the event. The event also paid tribute to Hina Jilani, UN Special Representative on Human Rights Defenders, and her contribution to the recognition and protection of WHRDs and HRDs in her role as Special Representative and as a woman human rights defender in her own right who has been at the fore for women human rights advocacy and suffered reprisals as a result. The participants recognised the mandate as a key mechanism for their protection and called on governments to strengthen the mandate.

Human rights defenders at the Forum committed themselves to the full implementation of the UN Declaration on the Human Rights Defenders at the end of the 2nd Asian Regional Human Rights Defenders Forum. They expressed commitments to strengthen mutual cooperation and support amongst each other, as well as to constructively engage with governments, the United Nations (UN) and national human rights institutions. These agreed upon commitment contained in the ‘Bangkok Commitment’. The Forum underscored the importance of the UN Special Representative on HRDs Mandate as an important mechanism for the protection and recognition of HRDs and issued a collective statement in support of the renewal of the mandate from the Forum.

Importantly, the HRD Forum also gave an opportunity for APWLD to organise caucuses between the UN Special Representative on HRD, Hina Jilani and women HRDs from countries where HRDs are facing particular challenges and risks. This included caucuses with WHRDs and HRDs from Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand and Burma. As a result of the meeting with HRDs from Philippines the UNSR HRDs agreed to try to visit Philippines for a sub-regional Consultation to meet with HRDs to report on the current situation in the Philippines and other countries in South-East Asia. A Consultation is currently being planned for February 2007. Furthermore, APWLD members from Indonesia have been instrumental in making the Indonesian government agree to the UNSRHRD making an official visit to Indonesia and the HRD Forum provided an opportunity for them to meet the UNSR HRD to brief her on the country situation and plan for her interaction with HRDs during her visit.