MINISTER FOR WOMEN, CHILDREN & SOCIAL PROTECTION HON. SASHI KIRAN'S SPEECH AT THE REVISED FIJI NATIONAL POLICY ON THE RIGHTS OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES LAUNCH

President of Fiji Disable Peoples Federation and its affiliates; SPC;
Australian High Commission;
Disability Service Providers; Development partners
Business Houses,
Media outlets
Families and Friends.
 
We have made it – the long awaited revised Fiji National Policy on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, is being launched today. The revised policy gives clear directions what Fiji needs to do, to adhere to our CRPD commitments that Fiji endorsed and ratified on 22nd March, 2017 and deposited its tools on 7th June, 2017 in New York.
 
SETTING THE PLATFORM FOR EXHANGE
I would like to thank those that have made this possible:
SPC – your timely financial assistance to engage Dr.Helen Tavola has ensured that the document was widely consulted, but most importantly captured views of persons with disabilities , disability service providers, government, academia and community service providers.

This is evident when reading the policy, noting that Fiji Disabled Peoples Federation, will play a lead role in more than 60% of the 13 strategic areas. This paradigm shift will ensure that the ask of our people that ‘Nothing for us, Without us’ is fully taken on board.

On 4th June 2025, Cabinet endorsed the Fiji Disability Policy and its Implementation Plan — a key milestone for inclusive governance.

The Fiji National Policy on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is for all stakeholders who aim to improve the lives of persons with disabilities through a human rights-based approach that recognises persons with disabilities have rights, and are capable of claiming those rights and making decisions for their lives based on their free and informed consent as well as being active members of society.

To organisations for persons with disabilities, thank you for letting your line Ministry in to your space. The task ahead of us, needs a whole of government approach and an collaboration with community service organisations, development partners, academic institutions, and business houses. Now I ask you, please continue to teach us what inclusion and equity should look like, create awareness so that the 113,595 members of the public who have at least one functioning challenge can benefit from this policy that will be launched today.
 
To the Australian Government – We much appreciate your GEDSI team that is providing support to operationalise the policy. I am especially looking forward to the Strategic Plan, to guide intervention work in the next 3 to 5 years. I am greatly pleased to hear that projects with making schools more accessible and the screening program for children with disabilities in main stream schools, continues from the AUSFACILITY work.
 
I acknowledge the assistance of the DFAT funded programs, especially research conducted on having a centralised data hub for disability. FDPF has successfully established their data-hub. I am aware that all Ministries and disability service providers collect disability data in different forms and for reporting requirements for global/regional reporting requirements of their relevant ministries or donor funded programs. It would be good to centralise all the reports for the policy to one place. I believe this is a conversation that the Technical Working Group for Disability formed by DFAT and the Platform is passionately discussing.
 
Organisations for Persons with Disabilities, thank you for your commitment to our partnership, which may have begun in the ‘blue corner’, but is now resounding in the house of parliament. When I began the journey as your minister, I had assured you that, ‘We hear you’. I hope that the increases in the Social Protection Schemes, your inclusion in our Ministry committees, the 5 stand alone disability specific budget lines, shows our commitment to the partnership.
 
I would like to acknowledge those that are no longer with us, but had started the journey with us: Mr.Joshco Wakaniyasi, Angeline Chand, Ramesh Chand, Mr.Frank Hilton, Dr.Sitiveni Yanuyanutawa and Mr.Jone Robanakadavu.
 
I also acknowledge those that are continuing this work: Mr.Setareki Macanawai, Ms Sureni Perera, Mrs Babara Farouk, Ms Sera Osborne, Mr Seinimelia, Ms Tulia, Ms Naomi, Ms Lanieta Tuimabu, Mr.Vilisoni, Master Vueti, Mrs Litea Naliva, Mr Ranjesh Prakash, Master Fuata and Mr Freddy Fatiaki.

To the carers and family members of persons with disabilities who have been part of the consultation and journey in providing advice on the policy. I must acknowledge last Joschco and Jone Robanakadavu also for the work they helped begin on Fiji’s First Report to the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities; CRPD, we have finalised the report and the Cabinet has now approved for its submission.
 
To conclude, Ladies and gentlemen, the incidence of disability in the population is likely to increase as Fiji has one of the highest rates of non- communicable diseases (NCD) in the world in particular both diabetes and stroke. Fiji has a prevalence of diabetes of 16% compared to a global average of 8.5% .This condition can lead to amputations, as well as blindness.
 
There is also a high rate of accidents in Fiji, which result in injury and disability. The population of Fiji is gradually ageing, and as most disabilities occur in older age-groups.

The revised Policy ensures that disability is mainstreamed across all government and private sector, through mechanisms such as sectoral advisory committees and district-level coordination. The strengthening of the existing mechanisms will also ensure that the policy is implemented and in turn will deliver the disability outputs mentioned in the Fiji National Development Plan and Vision 2050 is achieved.

Government’s investment on persons with disabilities has significantly increased over the past 5 years from a total of $21.8million in the financial year of 2020/ 2021 to $40.7million in Financial Year 2024/2025; an increase Of 86.8%. Most of the highlighted budget was facilitated by the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Protection (MWCSP) since it has already paid a total of $7.6million as monthly allowance to over 13,000 persons with permanent disability. Other implementers include Ministries of Finance, Health and Medical Services, Housing, Youth and Sports and Education.

The Coalition Government is committed for active participation, economic empowerment, independence and social inclusion of people living with disabilities - we will continue to empower persons with disabilities through the realisation of their human rights and the creation of an equal, peaceful, barrier-free and inclusive society for all.

Let us learn and grow together Fiji, for the benefit of all persons with disabilities.

Thankyou.