Nadi: The Chairperson of the National Centre for Human Rights (NCHR) and President of the Asia-Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institutions, Samar Haj Hassan, participated in the opening of the forum's regular conference held in Nadi, Fiji.
According to Jordan News Agency, the conference, themed "Shared Journeys Across Asia and the Pacific: Advancing Human Rights," addressed key issues such as the independence of national institutions, the protection of human rights defenders, the implications of climate change on human rights, and the enhancement of regional cooperation mechanisms.
During the event, Haj Hassan delivered a detailed presentation on the centre's initiatives in linking climate change and human rights in Jordan. She discussed the centre's efforts to monitor the impacts of climate change on vulnerable groups and to promote a rights-based approach in environmental policies and national legislation.
Haj Hassan emphasized that the NCHR allocates a significant section in its annual reports to the right to a healthy environment, highlighting environmental challenges in Jordan and their effects on housing, health, water, and food security. She called for strengthened regional and international cooperation, noting that climate change has become a primary human rights issue requiring comprehensive responses from national institutions, governments, and civil society.
She stressed the necessity for national institutions to maintain their independence, enhance their role in protecting human rights, and actively engage with international and UN mechanisms amid global challenges to human rights systems. Haj Hassan mentioned that the Asia-Pacific Forum is at a crucial stage that demands building new alliances with partners and donors, expanding joint advocacy, and strengthening cooperation with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and UNDP in the Pacific, while advancing collective work based on transparency, accountability, and the rule of law.
Participants from national human rights institutions, civil society organizations, and regional and international experts shared experiences on international accreditation processes, calling for ensuring independence, effectiveness, and responsiveness to emerging challenges.