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Hurricanes, Human Rights and Fiji

When people ask me what rising sea levels and hurricanes have to do with human rights, I tell them about my work trip to the Maldives back in 2008. At the time, the small island nation was undertaking democratic reforms and leading the diplomatic…
Maldivian Minister of Fisheries and Agriculture Ibrahim Didi signs a declaration calling on countries to cut down carbon dioxide emissions ahead of a major UN climate change conference in the Maldives, October 17, 2009. The Maldivian president and ministe
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UN Human Rights Council: Adoption of the Universal Periodic Review of Fiji

Statement delivered under Item 6

The Universal Periodic Review of Fiji comes at an important point in Fiji’s history. In 2014, the country held its first general elections in nearly eight years, resulting in the election of a new government of the Fiji First Party, headed by Prime…
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Fiji: Honor Commitments to Human Rights Council

Make Verifiable Changes to Dismal Rights Record

(Geneva) – UN member states should press the government of Fiji during its UN human rights review to end ill-treatment in detention, cease harassment and arbitrary arrest of its citizens, and stop interfering with judicial independence, Human Rights Watch…
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Ending a Culture of Impunity in Fiji

Fiji’s September 17 elections, the first in nearly eight years, were widely held to have restored democratic rule. An estimated 600,000 voters went to the polls, many casting their ballots for the very first time. But the man in charge before the election…
News

Fiji: Candidates’ Positions on Rights in Spotlight

Uphold Human Rights in Political Positions, Commitments

(Bangkok) – Fiji’s political parties and their candidates should make respect for human rights a central issue in their campaigns for the election on September 17, 2014, Human Rights Watch said today in letters to the five major parties fielding…
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Letter to Social Democratic Liberal Party

A Human Rights Agenda for Party Candidates

Ro Teimumu Kepa President Social Democratic Liberal Party   Re: A Human Rights Agenda for Party Candidates  Dear President Kepa, We write to you ahead of the elections scheduled for September 17, 2014 to urge that the Social Democratic Liberal Party…
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Letter to People's Democratic Party

A Human Rights Agenda for Party Candidates

Felix Anthony Leader People’s Democratic Party   Re: A Human Rights Agenda for Party Candidates  Dear Mr. Anthony, We write to you ahead of the elections scheduled for September 17, 2014 to urge that the People’s Democratic Party uphold the principles…
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Letter to National Federation Party

A Human Rights Agenda for Party Candidates

Biman Chand Prasad Party Leader National Federation Party   Re: A Human Rights Agenda for Party Candidates  Dear Mr. Prasad, We write to you ahead of the elections scheduled for September 17, 2014 to urge that the National Federation Party uphold the…
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Letter to Fiji Labour Party

A Human Rights Agenda for Party Candidates

Lavenia K. Padarath President Fiji Labour Party   Re: A Human Rights Agenda for Party Candidates  Dear President Padarath, We write to you ahead of the elections scheduled for September 17, 2014 to urge that the Fiji Labour Party uphold the principles of…
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Letter to Fiji First Party

A Human Rights Agenda for Party Candidates

Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama Leader Fiji First Party   Re: A Human Rights Agenda for Party Candidates  Dear Mr. Bainimarama, We write to you ahead of the elections scheduled for September 17, 2014 to urge that the Fiji First Party uphold the principles of…
News

In Fiji, Free Press Remains Elusive

In Fiji, one must choose between being an advocate for media freedom and a journalist. The chairman of the Media Industry Development Authority (MIDA), the government body tasked with regulating the media, advised a prominent local journalist in March to…
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Rights Abuses Continue in Fiji

Every year over 400,000 tourists flock to the pristine islands of Fiji, its celestial exterior barely revealing a turbulent political past. Fiji has been without an elected government since Rear Admiral Voreqe Bainimarama seized power in a December 2006…
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ILO: Support Commission of Inquiry on Fiji

Attacks on Freedom of Association Need Urgent Action

(New York) – International Labour Organization (ILO) members should support the establishment of a Commission of Inquiry on Fiji at the March 2014 session of the ILO Governing Body, Human Rights Watch said today in a letter to key member states. Such a…
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Letter to ILO Members Urging Commission of Inquiry on Fiji

Dr. Carlos A. Tomada Minister of Labour, Employment, and Social Security of Argentina   Dear Dr. Tomada, Human Rights Watch urges the government of Argentina, as a member of the Governing Body of the International Labour Organization (ILO), to support…
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Fiji UPR Submission

March 2014

Summary of Main Issues of Concern Fiji remains a military backed government that restricts fundamental rights such as freedom of speech, association, and assembly. Since 2009 the police have arbitrarily arrested and detained human rights defenders, trade…
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Fiji: Revise Draft Constitution to Protect Rights

Fiji: Revise Draft Constitution to Protect Rights

(New York) – The government of Fiji should amend articles that undermine human rights in a draft constitution that is scheduled to be promulgated on September 6, 2013. While the draft constitution requires respect for certain rights, it includes onerous…
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Fiji: Abuses Jeopardize Constitution Process

Attacks on Critics, Media Threaten Nascent Democratic Progress

(Bangkok) – The government of Fiji should end human rights abuses that threaten to undermine the legitimacy of the process begun to draft a new constitution, Human Rights Watch and the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) said today in a letter…