Tomorrow, April 9, 2026, is the final day for Fijians to contribute to a national study that aims to shape policy and services for children living with disabilities, the Fiji Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Commission (FHRADC) warned on Wednesday. The Commission said submissions — which can be made online — will close at midnight, marking the end of the public data-collection phase for the exercise that began in early February.
The nationwide study, launched by the FHRADC as part of its work to strengthen disability rights, is focused on capturing the lived experiences of children with disabilities across Fiji and identifying gaps in support systems. Its findings are intended to inform evidence-based recommendations to strengthen laws, policies and services so children with disabilities can access inclusion, safety and dignity, the Commission said.
FHRADC Director Loukinikini Lewaravu urged broad public participation in the final 24 hours, saying that community input is essential for the study to accurately reflect the realities faced by families and caregivers. “This national study, the first of its kind in Fiji, seeks to capture the lived realities of children with disabilities and identify the barriers that continue to limit their full inclusion, safety, and dignity,” Ms Lewaravu said. “Submissions will directly inform evidence-based recommendations to strengthen laws, policies, and services for children with disabilities in Fiji.”
Over recent months the Commission has conducted talanoa-style consultations and interviews in communities, deliberately engaging in iTaukei and Fiji Hindi to reach people in their preferred languages. Lewaravu said those engagements have already provided important insights, but the Commission is encouraging further contributions, particularly from families, caregivers, teachers and service providers whose experiences are often underrepresented in formal reviews.
Members of the public wishing to contribute can make submissions online via the FHRADC’s survey link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/GJZJTF9. The Commission has emphasised that both written submissions and responses to the survey will be treated as part of the evidence base that shapes its recommendations.
The study was first announced late last year as a nationwide baseline review of the protection and promotion of the rights of children with disabilities, forming part of the Commission’s broader strategic priorities. By closing the public submission window tomorrow, the FHRADC will move into the next phase of analysis, where the collected testimonies, consultation feedback and interview material will be synthesised to identify systemic barriers and policy priorities.
With the deadline imminent, the Commission reiterated that the study offers a rare opportunity for families and frontline educators and service providers to influence national-level decisions that affect access to education, health and social support for children with disabilities.
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