Fiji has launched its National Mechanism for Implementation, Reporting, and Follow-up (NMIRF), a significant step towards fostering transparency, accountability, and respect for human rights in the country. Attorney-General Graham Leung announced the initiative, emphasizing its importance for Fiji’s societal progress.
Leung highlighted that the NMIRF’s establishment is essential for enhancing the government’s transparency and accountability. He mentioned that the Human Rights Taskforce, recently approved by the Cabinet, would play a pivotal role in bolstering Fiji’s human rights framework.
The Taskforce, overseen by the Office of the Attorney-General, comprises representatives from various governmental bodies, including the Fiji Police Force, the Fiji Elections Office, the Fiji Bureau of Statistics, and the Fiji Corrections Service, aiming to foster broad cooperation on human rights matters throughout the government.
“Our immediate focus is on developing a web-based monitoring tool for human rights,” Leung stated. He noted that these initiatives would lead to improved reporting and ensure that human rights issues are adequately addressed by government agencies. He expressed gratitude to Fiji’s development partners for their support in achieving this milestone, asserting that the creation of the Taskforce represents a crucial commitment to human rights.
“This reflects our determination to fulfill our international obligations and to build a society that respects and protects the rights and dignity of every individual,” he added.
The establishment of the Human Rights Taskforce aligns with Fiji’s commitment to the eleven recommendations from the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) accepted in 2019. Heike Alefsen, the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights Regional Representative, remarked that the NMIRF marks a new phase in Fiji’s ongoing commitment to promoting and upholding human rights. She noted that the NMIRF aims to enhance the nation’s capacity to systematically implement, monitor, and report on the diverse human rights recommendations received, including those from the UPR, treaty bodies, and special procedures.