The Eighteenth Annual Meeting and Biennial Conference of the Asia Pacific Forum (APF) was held in Doha, Qatar from 1^st October to 3^rd October 2013. The Chairman of the MNHRC U Win Mra and two members of the Commission, U Hla Myint and Daw San San represented the MNHRC at the Conference.

          H.E Dr Ali Bin Smikh al-Marri, Chairman of the National Human Rights Committee of Qatar took over chairmanship of the APF from the previous Chairperson of the APF, Professor Amara Pousapich, Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission of Thailand.

          At the opening session, Dr Ali Bin Smikh al-Marri urged “close cooperation and a genuine partnership” with governments and civil society, the unification of perception of human rights issues and the need to agree on mechanisms for resolving problems and challenges. He also expressed hope that the Forum would come up with applicable recommendations. He also noted that one of the forum’s tasks was to support the establishment and development of national institutions and to enhance their relationships with governments and civil society groups.

          The Conference discussed a wide range of issues such as NHRIs as Human Rights Defenders; the role of NHRIs, in cooperation with the State and Civil Society, in working forward a peaceful transition to Democracy, challenges and opportunities;  the role of NHRIs, in working with police and security forces; the role of NHRIs in Democracy and Good Governance; How are NHRIs promoting and Protecting the Human Rights of Women and Girls?; and NHRIs and Women in Political and Democratic Reforms.

          At the Conference, the Chairman of MNHRC discussed the challenges and opportunities in Myanmar context regarding the promotion and protection of human rights. He presented to the Conference the efforts in creating public awareness about human rights issues in Myanmar.

          On 1^st October, the 18^th Annual Meeting and Biennial Conference accepted Oman and Samoa as new Associate Members of the APF. The Conference also agreed to accept the offer of the National Commission of India to host the 19^th APF Annual Meeting in India in 2014 and the offer of Mongolia to host the 20^th APF Annual Meeting and Biennial Conference in Mongolia in 2015.

          The APF annual meeting is a major decision making forum and plays a catalytic role in developing agreed new programmes and common policy position.

          The MNHRC became the Associate Member of the APF at the 17^th Annual Meeting of the APF held in Arman, Jordan in November 2012.