Positive steps towards human rights in Fiji, says NGO

Transcript

The Coalition on Human Rights in Fiji says there has been some positive steps to pushing for greater rights in the country, but there is still more to be done.

Fiji is today marking Human Rights Day, with hundreds turning out for a march in Suva.

The Fiji Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Commission says it has received more than 250 complaints of human rights violations, including alleged brutality at the hands of military and police.

The Coalition's chair, Shamima Ali, told Mary Baines there are signs the human rights situation is getting better.

SHAMIMA ALI: People are talking about human rights, what we have in Fiji, what we don't have, and what we have to work towards.

MARY BAINES: So how would you describe Fiji's human rights situation?

SA: I think there are some positives - the establishment of the Fiji Human Rights and Anti Discrimination Commission. They have their work cut out for them. They themselves have said they are getting a lot of complaints about women's rights being violated, about police brutality, security forces brutality and so on. So you know, they have their work cut out. So that's a positive that at least that has been established. We have the cases of the police brutality, which have been reopened and are before the courts now. The government is making statements about domestic violence, stopping domestic violence, the budget has included an allocation for a domestic violence helpline. So these are some of the good things happening but there are some other things that are not quite good.

MB: Would you say the situation is improving or actually getting worse?

SA: We are taking some strides out, up, and then we are taking a few back. So you know, like everywhere else one doesn't enjoy their full human rights but we work towards it. And there are democratic institutions in place that work democratically that are set up according to universal standards of human rights and so on. But those are the kind of things that we need to look at. I would say we are in a place where it could be a lot better for us.

MB: So what needs to be done to improve the situation?

SA: Well I believe the government has to enter into dialogue with civil society and has to very realistically look at political and civil rights of people and not just concentrate on social and economic rights, because rights are interconnected and indivisible. And one right cannot have priority over other rights. So I think that needs to be done. The government needs to review the decrees and make them compliant with universal standards of human rights. There are certain decrees that we object to and things like that. So they need to actually come to the table. And one way they can do that is through the Human Rights Commission.