Move will strengthen communication network on human rights issues in the Commonwealth

“This new website for National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) across the Commonwealth will facilitate the sharing of news, events and good practice across countries. It will also promote a strengthened collective voice for these bodies toward the improvement of the human rights situation in member states,” said Dr Sen at the launch of the website.

She noted that NHRIs are important bodies in the promotion and protection of human rights and the Forum enables them to work together more effectively across the Commonwealth. Dr Sen added that individual Commonwealth NHRIs which meet and share information and learning, have felt the need to strengthen networking and collaboration on rights issues. The establishment of this website is one important means towards an improvement in human rights protection.

“The website will promote the exchange of ideas, experience, expertise, knowledge, shared values and information. This will assist in enabling mutual support, as well as the advocacy and implementation roles of national institutions, especially those that are small or new,” stated Dr Sen.

Also commenting on the launch, David Langtry, Deputy Chief Commissioner of the Canadian Human Rights Commission and Deputy Chair of the CFNHRI said, "I am pleased to see the launch of this important tool. This website will be invaluable in providing visibility to the work of the Commonwealth Forum and to strengthening the communication network on human rights issues in the Commonwealth. This website will enable CFNHRI members to share information with the broader human rights community and to stay informed on important human rights issues and events across the Commonwealth."

CFNHRI aims to foster partnership among members and also with bilateral and international donors and agencies. It also aims to facilitate expressions of support, encouragement or concern in relation to particular events and developments in individual Commonwealth NHRIs for the better defence and promotion of human rights. These can contribute towards the co-ordination of a common position on issues affecting Commonwealth NHRIs.

CFNHRI comprises both NHRIs and Ombudsman offices from Canada; Africa (Cameroon, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mauritius, Namibia, Nigeria, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia), Asia (Bangladesh, India, Malaysia, Maldives, and Sri Lanka), the Pacific (Australia, Papua New Guinea and New Zealand), the Caribbean (Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, Guyana, Jamaica, St. Lucia, and Trinidad and Tobago) and Europe (Cyprus, UK, and Northern Ireland).