A/HRC/7/35 page 4 Introduction 1. The 14th Annual Workshop on Regional Cooperation for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights in the Asia-Pacific Region (the Workshop) was held in Bali, Republic of Indonesia, from 10 to 12 July 2007. It was attended by a total of 94 participants, including 25 member States from the region, as well as representatives of subregional organizations, national human rights institutions, United Nations agencies and programmes, and non-governmental organizations. 2. The theme selected by member States for the Workshop was Human Rights and Extreme Poverty. In preparation for the Workshop, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (“the Office”) invited two resource persons with expertise in human rights and extreme poverty, Mr. Siddiq Osmani and Mr. Rajeev Malhotra, to facilitate the thematic sessions and make presentations on the topic. 3. The Workshop was addressed at its opening by His Excellency the Director-General for Multilateral Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, Mr. Rezlan Ishar Jenie, and by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Ms. Louise Arbour. Mr. Jenie reflected on the centrality of human rights to Indonesia’s national experience of political reform and economic development, and the evolving discussion on a regional human rights mechanism. The High Commissioner reviewed some of the achievements of the Asia-Pacific Regional Framework, commending member States for progress made in implementing several aspects of the four pillars of the Tehran Framework. The High Commissioner noted the linkage between the four pillars of regional cooperation and the thematic challenge of addressing extreme poverty. She highlighted the draft guidelines on human rights and poverty reduction strategies developed by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights as an important tool for member States, regional bodies such as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and civil society actors. Lastly, she encouraged efforts within regional organizations to develop human rights charters or mechanisms. The High Commissioner hailed developments such as increased networking and collaboration among national human rights institutions in the region, as well as progress made at subregional levels towards developing appropriate mechanisms for the enhanced protection of human rights. I. REVIEW OF THE FOUR PILLARS OF THE TEHRAN FRAMEWORK 4. The first session of the Workshop was dedicated to the review of progress achieved in the four areas identified in the Tehran Framework, namely, national human rights action plans, national human rights institutions, human rights education, and right to development and economic, social and cultural rights. 5. Member States had the opportunity to make statements on their achievements, experiences and lessons learned under each of the four pillars. National institutions and civil society representatives also provided input under each topic. 6. With regard to National Action Plans (NAPs), a number of member States highlighted their experience with the preparation or implementation of such plans. Lessons learned included the importance of an inclusive and participatory process that created broad-based ownership among