The Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Commission is urging the immediate formation of a National Taskforce dedicated to addressing the issue of missing persons, particularly focusing on children and vulnerable individuals. The Commission warns that these cases should be viewed as urgent protection emergencies rather than merely policing issues.
Commissioner Chantelle Khan emphasized the need for this taskforce to include various stakeholders, such as government agencies, the Vanua, civil society organizations, and faith-based groups, to ensure a comprehensive and community-driven approach to these critical matters. The goal is to promote coordinated efforts that build trust within communities and foster shared responsibility for rapid responses to missing persons cases.
Khan articulated the necessity of implementing a child-centered and preventive strategy that includes precise and swift procedures for reporting missing children. Strong cooperation among Police, Social Welfare, Education, Health sectors, and community services is essential. This approach should also incorporate early intervention and safeguarding protocols within schools and communities to minimize risks.
The Commissioner highlighted that missing children are at heightened risk of violence, sexual exploitation, forced labor, substance abuse, and long-term trauma—issues often exacerbated by factors such as poverty, family breakdown, addiction, and insufficient support services. She stressed the importance of viewing missing persons cases as protection emergencies, necessitating a prompt and proactive response rather than mere criminal investigations.
Khan also pointed out that in addition to direct action against drug trafficking and organized crime, there is a pressing need for enhanced family support services to combat domestic violence, abuse, and household stress. Improving data collection and overall public awareness regarding missing children is vital, while simultaneously safeguarding the privacy and dignity of victims and their families.
As a signatory to the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance, Fiji has a legal obligation to act diligently from the moment a report of a missing person is filed. This includes conducting prompt searches, effective investigations, and ensuring the protection of both victims and their families, which Khan affirmed is a non-negotiable right.
The Commission warned that when prevention efforts fail or when there are serious risks to life, the State must respond with extreme urgency, as any delay in addressing these critical situations could violate Fiji’s international commitments. Khan called on all sectors of society—including State authorities, communities, families, and civil society—to come together to safeguard children and vulnerable individuals from harm.
“No child should be left unprotected from violence, exploitation, or criminal misuse,” she reiterated, underscoring that the protection of the most vulnerable members of society is a fundamental national duty. This proactive stance aims to enhance community safety and reinforce the support networks essential for safeguarding those in need.
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