ATTORNEY-GENERAL HON. SIROMI TURAGA'S KEYNOTE ADDRESS AT THE LAUNCH OF THE FIJI HUMAN RIGHTS AND ANTI-DISCRIMINATION COMMISSION’S WESTERN-REGIONAL OFFICE

The   Chairperson   of    the   Fiji    Human   Rights   and   Anti-Discrimination Commission, Pravesh Sharma
The Director of the Fiji Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Commission, Loukinikini Lewaravu
Members of the Diplomatic Corps
Representatives from the Pacific Community’s Human Rights and Social Development Division
Representatives from Civil Society Organisations Invited Guests
Ladies and Gentlemen
 
Bula vinaka and a very good morning to you all
 
On behalf of the People’s Coalition Government, it is my pleasure to welcome you all this morning to the opening of the Fiji Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Commission’s regional office here in the Western Division.
 
This is a milestone, given that this new office is the first-ever regional office of the Commission, branching out of Suva, since its inception in 1999. Indeed, a remarkable stepping stone towards advancing human rights work in Fiji.
 
I would like to congratulate the Commission’s Board, the Director and the staff for their vision to decentralise its services here in the Western- Division. With this new office, the public including the vulnerable groups, will now be able to reach out to the Commission, in person, to seek advice or lodge their complaints on discrimination or violation of their rights and freedoms under the Constitution.
 
This new office also means greater accessibility for not just members of the public but also for civil servants working at sub-national levels, statutory bodies, civil-society and community-based organizations, having access to the Commission’s services.
 
This initiative by the Commission fundamentally aligns well with the vision of the People’s Coalition Government’s approach to leaving no one behind through social inclusion and rights-based development, focusing on increased awareness of rights, access to basic social protection services and ensuring state–based institutions build capacity to better understand and promote human rights as they dispense their mandate.
 
In Fiji, there is still a need to create more awareness on human rights values, particularly in the remote, rural and maritime areas. Our traditional and religious leaders are vital in the dissemination and instilling human rights values in people, particularly, our children and the youths. Human Rights education can begin in the homes, in our own communities, in villages, schools, workplace and of course, through robust debates in the Parliament and through public discourses in media.
 
We cannot ignore the fact that we are living in a highly competitive world, today, with extraordinary technological progress, globalisation, which have contributed to growing social injustices and economic inequalities amongst our people, particularly, putting our island nation at high risk. Just recently, we have unveiled one of the biggest drug seizures ever, which is becoming widespread and affecting many families and sadly, our children.
 
Drugs and substance abuse leads to violation of a Childs rights. The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) stands alone among the core UN human rights treaties in setting out a human right to protection from drugs. In particular, Article 33 of the CRC states that ‘States Parties shall take all appropriate measures, including legislative, administrative, social and educational measures, to protect children from the illicit use of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances as defined in the relevant international treaties, and to prevent the use of children in the illicit production and trafficking of such substances.’
 
Accordingly, I would like to use this opportunity to once again appeal to our traditional leaders, our community leaders and our inter-faith based organizations to join the Government efforts in its war against drugs. We have to save our children from this problem.

While Government is focused on ensuring that our children, the women, the elderly and the diverse vulnerable groups which includes persons with disabilities, have access to basic social protection and are safe in their homes, schools and at workplace, I call on our key stakeholders – the community leaders to assist us in identifying the most vulnerable who may be experiencing human rights violations in their homes, schools or any other place – to report those violations to the right agency so help can be afforded to the victims and the perpetrators brought to justice.
 
Another critical area of concern is climate change and its impact on human life. In Fiji and the Pacific at large, climate change is threatening the health of our people, as well as our economic and social development. Extreme weather events, especially cyclones and floods are displacing communities, causing injuries and psychological trauma, and are increasing the risks of infection and malnutrition.
 
I am glad that the Commission has also been working in the area of climate change. I am informed that the Commission had engaged in a public consultation last year, scoping study across 8 of Fiji’s 14 provinces, visiting 27 villages, interviewing 185 residents. This study provided valuable insights into the pressing challenges faced by these communities in the context of climate change and its impact on their human rights.
 
The public consultation also provided the Commission an educational opportunity to advocate greater awareness on rights to a healthy environment, safe home and sanitation, clean drinking water and food, education, economic independence, and access to transportation.

This project was funded by the Asia Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institutions. This work will continue through state-funding. Some funds were allocated in the last national budget for the Commission to continue with its work in the area of climate change.
 
The People’s Coalition Government is committed to embracing human rights values of unity, equality, human dignity and respect for each other in our multi-religious and multicultural country.
 
I would like to reiterate the Honorable Prime Minister’s statement delivered at the UN General Assembly in New York last September, where he made a commitment to implement human rights covenants and conventions, including the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) and ILO Convention 169 on the Rights of Tribal and Indigenous People.
 
It is in this spirit that we encourage collaboration from all key stakeholders including the civil society organisations, the non- governmental organisations, youth groups, religious bodies, women’s organisations and our community leaders to collaborate with the Government in building, promoting and sustaining human rights culture in Fiji. We need to strengthen linkages between the communities, the Government and our National Human Rights Institution, to address stigma and any form discrimination.

With these words, I once again congratulate the Commission for their vision for decentralizing human rights with the opening of the first-ever office here in the Western Division. I envisage the opening of an office in the Northern Division. Of course, the Government will be happy to support any such initiative.
 
Thank you and vinaka vakalevu.