Truth and Reconciliation Commission commissioner Sekove Naqiolevu has placed young people at the centre of efforts to build a more inclusive Fiji, using the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination to press for greater youth engagement in national reconciliation and civic life. Speaking at an event marking the international observance, Naqiolevu said the Commission sees youth participation as essential to entrenching values of equality, respect and social cohesion for future generations.
Naqiolevu singled out specific youth-focused initiatives, including the National Electoral Re-entry Contest, as practical platforms for young Fijians to express ideas, exercise leadership and become active participants in civic processes. “Young people have a critical role in shaping a more inclusive Commission for Fiji. Their voices, their ideas, and their participation, including in initiatives such as the upcoming Re-entry Contest, are vital in helping to build a future that is grounded in respect and understanding,” he said, urging communities to move from commemoration to renewed commitment.
The commissioner emphasised that creating safe spaces for dialogue, truth-telling and mutual understanding is a necessary complement to formal programs. Naqiolevu argued that conversation across differing communities and perspectives helps prevent social divisions from taking root and ensures that reconciliation is a lived practice rather than a series of one-off events. He framed youth-led engagement as both preventative and transformative, equipping the next generation to uphold equality and challenge discrimination.
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission is calling on all citizens to support these youth-led efforts, saying meaningful inclusion will require the energy and ideas of young people alongside broader public backing. The Commission’s appeal comes at a time when civic participation initiatives are being promoted across the Pacific as tools to strengthen democratic practice and social cohesion, and it marks a renewed push to make reconciliation work intergenerational.
Naqiolevu’s address also placed an emphasis on practical participation rather than symbolic gestures alone. By highlighting the Re-entry Contest as an example, the Commission is signalling a preference for programs that combine civic education with tangible opportunities for leadership and public engagement. Such initiatives provide avenues for young people to translate ideals of fairness and respect into community action and policy influence.
This latest development underscores the Commission’s strategic emphasis on youth as agents of long-term change. By elevating specific programmes and calling for inclusive dialogue, the TRC is asking communities, civil society and government actors to invest in youth participation as part of the country’s broader reconciliation and nation-building agenda. The Commission’s message is clear: building an inclusive Fiji requires sustained, collective support for young leaders and the spaces in which they can speak, listen and lead.
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