SPEECH BY THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL HON. GRAHAM LEUNG AT THE INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR THE ELIMINATION OF RACIAL DISCRIMINATION 2025

Trustees,
Principals,
Parents,
Students

It is an honour to stand before you today as we commemorate the United Nations international day for the elimination of racial discrimination.

Every year, on march 21, the world pauses to reflect on the urgent need to eliminate racial discrimination in all its forms.

Today is not just about remembering the past—it is a call to action for all of us, as individuals and as a Vunimono High, Nakasi High School & Noco secondary school 1 nation, to build a future grounded in fairness, respect, and unity.
 
This year’s theme, "60th anniversary of the international convention on the elimination of all forms of racial discrimination (ICED)," is particularly significant. For 60 years—ten years before fiji became independent—this day has drawn global attention to racial discrimination and the need to dismantle it.
 
The adoption of CERD in 1965 by the United Nations was a commitment by the world to ensure that no person is judged, excluded, or limited because of their race or ethnicity and as we mark this anniversary, we must ask ourselves: have we done enough to live up to that commitment?

Early years
My father Lambert was born in Fiji in 1926. My grandfather came from southern China to Fiji in the early part of the 20th century. He met and married my mother fanny in Levuka, Fijis old capital. Her father was Chinese and her mother was an indigenous Fijian lady from the village of Muanisolo. Kadavu. My father was a butcher.

My mother was a housewife. My four siblings and i were all born in Levuka, and i spent my early childhood there in the late 1950s and early 60s. I was the youngest in the family. We spoke English at home.

Occasionally my 3 mothers would speak to us in Fijian. My father never spoke to us in Chinese. In Levuka, my parents befriended an iTaukei family, the Vuetis who lived in Draiba village in Ovalau.

I was welcomed into that family, spoilt by them, and treated like one of their own. Tata Suliano Vueti was originally from Nacamaki in koro. Nana Sabina was from the village of Tokou.

They reserved the best of everything for me. I spent considerable time with the Vueti family and learnt to speak the taukei language. To this day, the Vueti family and my family have become one. Levuka was something of an ethnic melting pot in those days. Our neighbours included an Indian family who ran a laundry.

My parents had a wide circle of friends of different races – they included Dr Arthur Dass and his wife Maureen, the Youngs, Sandys, Pattersons, dr Ratu Dovi, younger brother of Ratu Sir Lala Sukuna, and many others.

They often stopped by for a cup of tea, to play cards or to yarn. Dr Dovi’s son, the late Rt Joni Madraiwiwi and I were childhood friends, and went onto university, and studied law and later worked together in the attorney general’s office, as lawyers. Rt Joni was to become a high court judge and Vice President of Fiji.

My formative years in Levuka were happy and carefree. We played games like “he” or tag, “pani” - knocking down empty tins with a ball. Spinning tops were a favourite as well.

There were no mobile phones or videos then. From an early age, Levuka shaped my attitude to race and race relations. Growing up, I was naturally conscious that my appearance was different from the majority of the kids around me. I was the only “Chinese” child in the neighbourhood.

Someone recently asked me whether i was a target for racial slurs. I hesitate to use that word. However occasionally one of the village kids would call out to me “ching tau wa”.

Later when our family moved to Lautoka, I remember a classmate referring to me as “ja gi” - “chinaman”. Looking back to my childhood, these racial taunts stung at the time, but they were isolated incidents. I have never believed that Fiji is a racist country in the way that racism was and is practiced in some countries around the world.

CERD
The convention basically says the idea of superiority based on racial differentiation is scientifically false, morally wrong and dangerous, and that there is no justification for racial discrimination.

Fiji accepted the principles of the CERD in 1973, soon after we gained independence in 1970. The adoption by the general assembly of the united nation and (un) of the international convention on the elimination of all forms of racial discrimination on 21 December 1965 continues to stand as a landmark event in the history of international law on the rights of peoples and human rights.

The convention arose from years of protest against powerful countries who had ruled over smaller nations. In many countries under colonial rule they practiced 7 apartheids, a system that divided and ranked human beings on the basis of their ‘race’.
 
Fiji laws dealing with racial hatred
Fiji has laws that make it a crime to incite racial antagonism – causing ill feeling or hatred, between people from different races. Under the public order act, it is a serious offence to spread hate or cause division between different races, religions, or communities. If someone uses words—whether spoken, written, or even through signs—that promote racial hatred, spread false information to turn people against each other, or create fear and insecurity in another community, they are breaking the law. 8 people who break this law can face up to 10 years in prison, or a fine of up to $50,000.

Our record
The journey to build greater racial harmony in Fiji is work-in-progress. There are times when we have failed each other and failed ourselves as a nation. But we cannot undo the past. And we must learn from our mistakes. In 1987, 2000, 2006 we experienced some racial incidents, and some of the worst riots in our history took place.

Our country was sorely tested at times. We came close to the edge of a cliff, but we did not fall. In large part, this was due to the goodwill of the majority of ordinary people in this country.

We managed to largely preserve the social order and harmony for which we are known. 9 however, these periods of lawbreaking and lawlessness set us back, caused damage to race relations, and eroded the trust between our different communities.

Who we are as a people
I take immense pride in our multicultural heritage. My story is not unique—many of us are the descendants of people who came to this land seeking a better future, whether by choice or circumstance.

And over generations, we have built a home together, iTaukei, indo-fijians, Rotuman’s, Banabans, Melanesians, Part-Europeans, Europeans, Chinese, and other ethnic groups, each contributing to the rich tapestry of who we are. 10 ours is a land where cultures have not just coexisted but have influenced and shaped one another in ways that have made Fiji truly unique.

Yet, while we celebrate our diversity, we must also acknowledge the times in our history when racial differences have been used to divide us. There have been moments when suspicion and fear have created walls between communities, when we have been made to feel that we are separate rather than part of the same family. This is precisely why today is important—it is a moment for us to acknowledge our past mistakes, celebrate our progress, and renew our commitment to working towards true racial equality.

The danger of “othering”
At the root of racial discrimination is the act of othering—the tendency to draw a line between "us" and "them." othering happens when we see some people as belonging, and others as outsiders.

When someone is seen as "the other," it becomes easier to dismiss them, to treat them unfairly, or to believe they do not deserve the same respect and opportunities. Othering can start in small ways — assumptions about a person’s character based on their surname, judgments about their worth based on their appearance, dismissive attitudes toward customs different from our own.

But history has shown that these small acts go unchecked, they can grow into something much more dangerous. Fiji has had its difficult and challenging moments— times when racial and ethnic divisions have threatened our unity as a nation.

But if we look beyond our shores, we see that in many places around the world, othering has led to even greater suffering—wars, oppression, and even genocide. In every case, it started the same way: by convincing people that their neighbors were not brothers and sisters, but "others"—people to fear, people to keep at a distance, people who are inferior.

This is why we must be vigilant. We cannot allow these seeds of division to take root. Fiji must never be a country where anyone feels like a stranger in their own land. To anyone who might even suggest that Fiji is not home to those who are not taukei, I say to you today as a descendant of immigrants, reject those feelings. Those thoughts are racist, and they run against the tide of history. This is not who we are. I know the majority of people in this country are peace-loving and kind. Let us not be distracted by extremists of any color. History will not judge them kindly.

When we travel, we become “the other”
For those of us who have traveled abroad, we have all, at some point, felt what is like to be "the other." when we leave Fiji, we become minorities. We no longer set the norms. We walk through foreign streets where the language is unfamiliar, where the customs are not our own. And in those moments, what do we long for? We long for a piece of home.

We find ourselves searching for a familiar face, hoping to hear someone greet us in the way we know. And when we meet another Fijian— whether they are iTaukei, Indo-Fijian, Rotuman, Chinese, or of any other background—we do not stop to ask where they come from.

The moment, we see them, we feel a connection, a sense of belonging. And often, we instinctively seek out a place where we might share a tanoa, pass around a few Bilo of yaqona, and remind ourselves that no matter where we are, we are still Fijians. That experience should remind us of a simple truth: what unites us is far greater than what divides us.

If we can recognize this truth when we are far from home, why do we sometimes struggle to see it when we are standing side by side in our own country? Our diversity should be a cause for celebration because it is one of our strengths. 

Loving our neighbor
The Old Testament tells us that the israelites, after enduring oppression in Egypt, were constantly reminded by God: “do not mistreat or oppress a foreigner, for you were foreigners in Egypt” (exodus 22:21). God commanded them to remember their suffering—not so they could dwell on it, but so they would never repeat it.

And Jesus carried this message even further, calling us to “love our neighbors as ourselves” (mark 12:31). In the “parable of the good Samaritan”, Jesus challenges us to expand our understanding of who our neighbor is. The Samaritan, despised by others, is the one who shows true compassion. The lesson is clear—our neighbor is not just the one who looks like us, worships like us, shares our customs, or speaks our language. Our neighbor is the “other” - the one who may be different from us in race, culture or background.

And yet, within that difference, we are called to embrace one another with love. The holy books of other religions say much the same. While the Gita does not explicitly condemn discrimination, it emphasizes the universal nature of the divine, and the importance of treating all persons with respect and compassion.

The prophet Mohammed said, “there is no superiority of an Arab over a non-Arab, or a non-Arab over an Arab, and no superiority of a white person over a black person or of a black person over a white person, except on the basis of personal piety and righteousness.

”If we truly believe in the teachings of our faith, then we must actively reject racism. We cannot and must not allow discrimination to exist in our homes, in our workplaces, or in our institutions."

A call to action:
while we can acknowledge that we have made some progress, we must also recognize that we must work harder at removing discrimination or perceptions of discrimination—in the way opportunities are distributed, in economic disparities, and in the biases that sometimes creep into our institutions.

We cannot ignore these realities. But today is not just 18 about acknowledging problems—it is about committing to solutions. I believe the politics of race is limiting. What we should be doing more of as a country is concentrating on trying to improve the situation lot of the marginalized, whoever they are. That means reducing poverty, finding jobs for our young people and improving the state of our hospitals.

We must:
“challenge our own biases”—let us examine our hearts and see where we may harbor prejudice, however subtle it may be. 

“promoting inclusivity in every space”.

We must ensure that inclusivity is reflected in every aspect of our society—not just in our schools and workplaces, but also in sports, arts, and performance.

In education, we must ensure that children of all backgrounds learn side by side, sharing experiences that shape them into adults who see each other as equals.

In employment, we must remove barriers so that everyone, regardless of their background, has the same chance to succeed.

In sports, we must celebrate the way our national teams bring us together. Our rugby teams, for example, are a testament to the power of unity— players from different backgrounds coming together under one jersey, representing one nation, and making us all proud.

In the performing arts, groups like vow dance Fiji have shown how blending traditions from different cultures can create something truly spectacular— performances that are rooted in our shared identity but take inspiration from all the cultures that make up Fiji.

When we ensure that everyone, regardless of ethnicity, has equal opportunities to participate, to lead, and to excel, we move closer to a Fiji that truly reflects the ideals of fairness and equality.

“Teach the next generation”— I would like to share with you my belief that you should grow up understanding and believing that diversity is a gift, not a threat. The more we interact closely, the more we know someone of a different race, religion, background – it can be a different race, different religion, 21 different political beliefs, different gender – we will have a little bit more of care and understanding each time we practice tolerance and understanding. It will be built up slowly.

And I think that's how it ought to be, it will shape our thinking and how we look at others, and how we see our own place in society as well.

A hopeful future for Fiji.
My vision is for a Fiji where race is not a barrier, but a bridge. A Fiji where no child is made to feel lesser because of their ethnicity. A Fiji where we celebrate our differences but never allow them to divide us.

As we commemorate the 60th anniversary of CERD, let us renew our commitment—not just in words, but in action. 22 let us work toward a Fiji where future generations will look back and wonder why racial discrimination was ever an issue at all in this country. Building a better Fiji starts with each and every one of you.

Here’s how you can help:
1. Be color blind: treat everyone the same, regardless of their race or background.
2. Spread love: channel the energy of Beyoncé’s 2024 smash hit: *"love is the antidote to hate."
3. Speak up: if you see racism or bullying, don’t stay silent.
4. Stand up for what’s right.

 “Speak out against discrimination”—when you see injustice, do not be silent. Silence allows racism to persist. Celebrate diversity: learn about other cultures, try new foods, and learn to appreciate the beauty in our differences.

It is my sincere hope that one day, when the world looks at us, they do not see a divided people. They see Fijians—resilient, diverse, and united. Remember this: your generation has the power to redefine what it means to be Fijian—not based on race, religion or creed, but on character.

May we always choose unity over division, love over hate, and hope over fear. As we celebrate this international day for the elimination of racial discrimination, I encourage you to commit to the values of mutual respect, tolerance, understanding, and unity.

Let us practice kindness and compassion towards one another. I wish to end my speech to you today by quoting the late Ratu Joni Madraiwi: “it is time to move forward together. Stronger for the bitter experiences we have shared, wiser for the suffering inflicted on us and more compassionate for having the capacity to forgive.”

I would now like to make some brief comments to address the iTaukei students in the audience.

Au bolei kemuni na cauravou, na goneyalewa, o kemuni na tiko rawa na soqo vinaka nikua, da veilomani, da veikawaitaki ka da dau veivakarokoroko taki. Na noda vanua o viti, e noda kece.

Au vakananumi keda na ia oqo 25 sa tu na vakabauta, na i niuniu na loloma, a ka tolutolu oqo; sa uasivi cake vei iratou na loloma.

Au sa nuitaka na noda na bula taka na bula ni loloma, ena noda bula ena veisiga vei ira kece na kawa tamata eda sa mai bula vata tiko nikua. yalovinaka tiko ni kalougata tiko, da kalougata vata.

Practice tolerance, respect & love.
Of the 3 commandments; faith, hope and love but the greatest of this is love.

Our Fiji is our home. All of us.

Vinaka vakalevu, dhanyavaad, and thank you.