Transcript
Since its first peacekeeping deployment in 1978, Fiji has been the largest per capita contributor and served in almost every major conflict zone.
Nearly 60 Fijians have been killed while on peace keeping duty over the past four decades.
Last week, Fiji's Defence Minister, Inia Seruiratu, told New York thinktank the International Peace Institute that Fiji's peacekeepers are a costly endeavour.
But he said Fiji would not shy away from its contributions.
"It has not been easy as a small developing country to participate in peacekeeping for more than 40 years. It was a commitment that successive Fijian governments have chosen despite the huge challenges."
Mr Seruiratu also appeared before a ministerial meeting of UN peacekeeping countries on Friday in New York.
There, he said Fiji was committed to improving safety measures in peacekeeping as part of a UN action plan introduced last year.
Speaking at the International Peace Institute, Mr Seruiratu said Fiji would also continue to improve the participation of women.
"Fiji has embarked on an action plan to improve its peacekeeping participation. We will improve performance. Qualified and highly trained peacekeepers mitigate the risks, they provide better protection to the communities."
Fiji has around 265 peacekeepers deployed and analysts say its contributions have earned it a strong international reputation.
Anna Powles, a senior lecturer in strategic studies at Massey University, says ensuring equal outcomes for women is key.
"Increasing those opportunities for women to serve and to deploy are fundamental to this, not least because of the commitments under the UN."
But Dr Powles says there have been issues with Fiji's peacekeeping operations which have yet to be addressed.
"Those issues that we are certainly aware of relate to sexual exploitation and abuse by peacekeepers and so that's obviously an area that needs greater scrutiny as well."
Last week, RNZ Pacific reported on a Fijian UN peacekeeper who was dismissed from duty in 2018 after engaging in sexual exploitation while stationed in Lebanon.
The peacekeeper was not named and was also removed from service in Fiji's military, which didn't respond to requests for comment.
Dr Powles says there needs to be a stronger commitment by Fiji to improve the conduct of its peacekeepers.
