Our work is grounded in a simple but powerful truth – protecting refugees is not only a legal responsibility – it is a moral imperative.
The Minister for Immigration, Hon. Viliame Naupoto, stated this at the 2025 Refugee Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue held in Suva today (12:06:2025), hosted by Fiji’s Ministry of Immigration in collaboration with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
Minister Naupoto affirmed Fiji’s commitment to upholding its obligation to protect them with compassion and fairness.
The event also saw the signing of the Joint MOI-UNHCR Refugee Status Determination (RSD) Standard Operating Procedures (SOP), which Minister Naupoto hailed as a ‘milestone’.
The Joint MOI-UNHCR RSD SOP outlines a clear, coordinated and consistent process for assessing the protection needs of asylum seekers in the future. It ensures that decisions are made in a fair, timely and transparent manner, in alignment with local legislation and international refugee law and humanitarian principles.
“We do not and should not see refugees as burdens. We see them as mothers, fathers, sons and daughters full of potential. We see our own families, our own hopes reflected in their eyes. When given the opportunity, they thrive, they contribute, and they become part of our shared story,” Hon. Naupoto stated.
He said the 2025 Refugee Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue was a catalyst for regional cooperation and innovation.
“While previous dialogues may have noted Fiji's immigration humanitarian stewardship, this year's gathering focuses on developing functional solutions to the mounting challenges in protecting the displaced population.
“We acknowledge the constraints small economies face, as we in the Pacific Island countries face in developing comprehensive asylum systems. On its part, Fiji has charted a path forward by granting work rights to asylum seekers early in the process; we enable them to live with dignity, contribute economically and reduce their dependence on limited aid resources.
“Complementing this is the strong support of local partners, from civil society and faith communities to businesses, who offer shelter, medical and psychosocial care and employment opportunities. In the face of rising global displacement and shrinking humanitarian resources, one truth remains. No single actor can meet these challenges on its own. A cooperative approach with shared responsibility within its jurisdictions, in the region and beyond, is essential.”
Hosted during the World Refugee Day month, the Ministry and the UNHCR aimed to foster regional responsibility-sharing for refugee protection through this dialogue event, uniting up to 70 participants, including influential Fijian and Pacific government officials, NGOs, FBOs, university representatives, UN officials and employers.