A/HRC/13/44 Annex II Fourteenth Annual Meeting of the Asia-Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institutions 3 to 6 August 2009, Amman, Jordan APF Conference concluding statement Introduction 1. The Asia-Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institutions (the APF), consisting of the national human rights institutions (NHRIs) of Afghanistan, Australia, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Nepal, New Zealand, the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Philippines, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Timor-Leste, held its Fourteenth Annual Meeting in Amman, Jordan, from 3 to 6 August 2009 under the patronage of His Majesty King Abdullah II ibn Al Hussein. 2. The Forum Councillors expressed their deep gratitude and appreciation to His Majesty King Abdullah II ibn Al Hussein for giving his patronage to the Conference and to the Jordan National Centre for Human Rights for hosting the meeting, to the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) for its co-sponsorship and to all the APF’s donors for their financial support. They acknowledged the significant contribution of H.R.H. Prince Hassan bin Talal as the keynote speaker on Human Rights and Religious Belief. 3. H.E. Mr. Nader Al-Dahabi, Prime Minister of Jordan, officiated at the opening ceremony of the meeting. Dr. Adnan Badran, Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of the Jordan National Centre for Human Rights and Chairperson of the APF, and Tan Sri Abu Talib Othman, Chairperson of the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia and Deputy Chairperson of the APF delivered speeches at the opening ceremony. The speakers stressed the importance of human rights and the role of NHRIs and the APF in the promotion and protection of human rights throughout the Asia-Pacific region. 4. Forum Councillors also warmly thanked H.E. Mr. Abdulhadi Al Majaly, Speaker of the Lower House of Parliament, for hosting a conference function. They acknowledged the expert contributions of Dr. Bassam Al-Omoush, Mr. Robert Archer and Mr. Demostenes Chryssikos, and warmly welcomed the participation and statements of the Chairperson of the International Coordinating Committee of National Institutions (ICC), Ms. Jennifer Lynch QC, and the representatives of the OHCHR, Mr. Homayoun Alizadeh and Ms. Francesca Albanese. 5. The Forum Councillors encouraged and welcomed the participation and statements of approximately 43 international, regional and national non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and the representatives of the parliaments and/or Governments of Australia, Indonesia, Jordan, Malaysia, Nauru, New Zealand, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Samoa and Thailand and the intergovernmental organization of the Commonwealth Secretariat. 6. Finally the Forum Councillors expressed their appreciation for the excellent efforts and hospitality of the Chairperson, Commissioner General Dr. Muhyieddeen Touq, and staff of the Jordan National Centre for Human Rights and the APF secretariat in the organization of the annual meeting and conference. GE.10-10269 23