AGENDA

Regional Consultation on National Human Rights Institutions and Civil Society Organizations’ engagement with the international human rights system:

Enhancing the protection of human rights on the ground in Asia

Amari Watergate Hotel, Bangkok

22 – 23 November 2010

Day 1: Monday 22 November 2010
Opening session
9:00 – 9:30 / Welcoming remarks:
-  Mr. Homayoun Alizadeh, Regional Representative for South-East Asia, OHCHR
-  Mr. Nicholas Rossellini, Deputy Assistant Administrator and Deputy Regional Director, Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific, UNDP
9:30-10:00
10:00 – 11:00 / Introduction of participants
Panel discussion - Protecting human rights in Asia: views from NHRIs and CSOs
-  Mr. Kieren Fitzpatrick, Director, Asia Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institutions (APF)
-  Mr. Yap Swee Seng, Executive Director, Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (Forum-Asia)
Moderator: Ms. Pauline Tamesis, Democratic Governance Practice Leader, UNDP (TBC)
Discussion
11:00 – 11:15 / Coffee Break
Session I - NHRIs and CSOs collaborative engagement with the Human Rights Council and the Universal Periodic Review: challenges, opportunities and value added
Taking stock of the cooperation between NHRIs and CSOs in engaging with the HRC and the UPR and discussion of challenges, strategies adopted and impact at country level.
Session Moderator: Ms. Sisi Shahidzadeh, Deputy Chief, National Institutions and Regional Mechanisms Section, (OHCHR)
11:15 – 12:15 / The Human Rights Council and the UPR: lessons learned from NHRIs and CSOs engagement during the first UPR cycle
-  Jong-Gil Woo, Human Rights Officer, UPR Unit, Field Operations & Technical Cooperation Division, OHCHR
Discussion
12:15 – 13:30 / Lunch
13:30 – 14:45 / Panel discussion - Opportunities for cooperation between NHRIs and CSOs in engaging with the Human Rights Council and the UPR: country experiences
-  Ms. Karen Gomez Dumpit, Director, Commission on Human Rights of the Philippines
-  Mr. Moon Hui Tah, SUARAM
-  Mr. Zanofer Ismalebbe, Human Rights Advisor, UNDP
Discussion
14:45 – 15:00 / Coffee break
Session II - Working together in engaging with Treaty Bodies and Special Procedures
Taking stock of the work of NHRIs and CSOs in engaging with the Treaty Bodies and Special Procedures and discussion of challenges, opportunities for collaboration and strategies adopted
Session Moderator: Mr. Homayoun Alizadeh, Regional Representative for South-East Asia, OHCHR
15:00 – 15:45 / Engagement with the Treaty Body and Special Procedures system: opportunities for NHRIs and CSOs
-  Ms. Shanti Dairiam, former Committee Member, Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW)
Discussion
15:45 – 16:45 / Panel discussion on cooperation between NHRIs and CSOs in engaging with Treaty Bodies and Special Procedures: country examples
-  Mr. Shamun Hameed, Director, Human Rights Commission of the Maldives
-  Ms. Indriaswati Dyah Saptaningrum, Acting Executive Director, ELSAM
-  Mr. Hassan Ali Faiz, Head, Human Rights Support Unit, Ministry of Justice - UNDP Afghanistan
Discussion
16:45 – 17:20 / Keynote speech: the status of human rights in Asia
-  Mr. Rafendi Djamin, Indonesia Representative, ASEAN -Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights
17:20 – 17:30 / Closing of Day I
18:30 Evening reception
Day 2: Tuesday, 23 November 2010
09:00 – 09:15 / Introduction of group work
09:15 – 11:15 / Parallel working groups on
-  NHRIs-CSO engagement with the HRC and the UPR
-  NHRIs-CSOs’ engagement with TB and SP
11:15 – 11:30 / Coffee break
11:30 – 13:00 / Presentation of group work - Plenary discussion
13:00 – 14:00 / Lunch
Session III – The International Coordinating Committee of NHRIs and its Subcommittee on Accreditation
Taking stock of the role of the ICC/SCA and the work undertaken by NHRIs and CSOS in connection with it. Discussing priorities, challenges and strategies adopted by NHRIs and CSOs in engaging with the ICC.
Session Moderator: Mr. Chris Sidoti, Senior Consultant, Asia Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institutions (APF)
14:00 – 15:45 / Role and functions of the International Coordinating Committee of NHRIs and its Sub-committee on Accreditation: challenges and opportunities for NHRIs and NGOs
-  Ms. Sisi Shahidzadeh, Deputy Chief, National Institutions and Regional Mechanisms Section, OHCHR
-  Mr. Jae Chun Won, Director General, National Human Rights Commission of Korea
-  Ms. Emerlynne Gill, Coordinator, Asian NGOs Network on NHRIs (ANNI)
Discussion
15:45 – 16:00 / Coffee break
16:00 -17:00 / Recommendations and next steps in enhancing NHRIs-CSOs collaboration in the promotion and protection of human rights at the national level.
Plenary discussion
17:00 – 17:15 / Closing remarks