Our Chair’s Report 2018-2020 covers the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s (EHRC) term as Chair of the Commonwealth Forum of National Human Rights Institutions.

The activity undertaken during this term centred around three pillars aimed at strengthening the governance of the Forum, creating change, and improving communications to better promote the activity of the Forum and its members. One of the specific focus issues during our term of Chair, driven by members, was to advance the protection, promotion, and education on sexual orientation and gender identity rights.

This report details the main activities and outcomes of the CFNHRI, providing a snapshot of the breadth of expertise of the membership. It demonstrates the unique powers and levers NHRIs can use to promote and protect the rights of citizens nationally and internationally, and the importance of networks like the CFNHRI to drive collective action on human rights.

The EHRC’s term as Chair of the Forum was funded by the United Kingdom Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office. The term has been extended until June 2021 due to the postponement of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting and the Forum’s Biennial Meeting.