Fiji has launched its National Mechanism for Implementation, Reporting, and Follow-up (NMIRF), a significant step toward enhancing transparency, accountability, and respect for human rights in the country. Attorney-General Graham Leung announced the initiative, expressing that it marks vital progress in Fiji’s efforts to strengthen governance.
Leung highlighted that the formation of a Human Rights Taskforce, recently approved by the Cabinet, is integral to bolstering Fiji’s human rights framework. This Taskforce will be responsible for coordinating the nation’s interactions with various international human rights entities, such as the United Nations Human Rights Treaty Bodies and the Human Rights Council’s Special Procedures.
The Taskforce, led by the Office of the Attorney-General, comprises representatives from numerous government departments, including the Fiji Police Force, Fiji Elections Office, Fiji Bureau of Statistics, and the Fiji Corrections Service, promoting cross-government collaboration on human rights matters.
“Our immediate priority includes developing a web-based monitoring tool and process for human rights,” Leung stated. He emphasized that these developments would enhance reporting and ensure comprehensive attention to human rights by government agencies. He also acknowledged the support of Fiji’s development partners in achieving this milestone, underlining the importance of the Taskforce in the nation’s commitment to human rights.
Leung noted that the establishment of the Taskforce aligns with Fiji’s dedication to implementing the eleven Universal Periodic Review recommendations accepted in 2019. Heike Alefsen, Regional Representative of the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, described the NMIRF as a new phase in Fiji’s ongoing efforts to promote and protect human rights, aimed at improving the systematic implementation, monitoring, and reporting on various human rights recommendations received from international bodies.