Vani Catanasiga, coordinator of the Fiji Council of Social Services (FCOSS), has expressed concerns regarding the government’s plan to create a national register for humanitarian organizations and disaster risk management volunteers. Her remarks came in response to the introduction of the proposed National Disaster Risk Management Bill in Parliament, which aims to set up a Fiji cluster system for all humanitarian entities and a registry for disaster response volunteers.
While Catanasiga welcomed the proposal, she raised questions about whether the standards set for non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and community volunteers would also apply to government responders. She stated, “FCOSS believes the new Bill enhances our accountability as non-State actors and development partners. However, we are curious whether government responders are held to the same standards as civil society organizations and community volunteers.”
The Bill suggests creating a registry for humanitarian actors, which is focused on individuals, alongside a disaster risk management (DRM) volunteer organization registry designed for groups. Catanasiga inquired if there would be a system in place for civil servants acting as responders that would commit them to the Core Humanitarian Standards (CHS) as they fulfill their official responsibilities.
She emphasized that the Bill would be more effective if it included civil service responders, asserting, “FCOSS, which recently joined the CHS Alliance, believes the Act should encompass registration for civil service responders to achieve its objectives. Without this inclusion, I fear the Bill may not fully succeed.”
The proposed legislation was presented by Ratu Rakuita Vakalalabure, the chairperson of the Standing Committee on Justice, Law, and Human Rights. He noted that the establishment of a Fiji cluster system would improve coordination among humanitarian organizations and require volunteer groups to register formally for disaster response activities. Ratu Rakuita added that the provisions aim to provide a protective framework for volunteers, ensuring their safety during disaster response efforts.