The Fiji Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Commission has cautioned against rushing to declare a State of Emergency to tackle the country’s escalating illicit drug problem, saying any emergency or intensified enforcement must not come at the expense of constitutional and human rights protections. Director Loukinikini Lewaravu said the Commission recognises public alarm and government efforts to address drug-related harm, but warned special powers risk disproportionately harming young people, children and other vulnerable groups.
“The Commission shares the concerns of the public and the Government on the very grave social, health, safety and security impacts of illicit drugs on individuals, families and communities,” Ms Lewaravu said, while stressing the particular severity of drug-related harms for people living with drug dependence or mental health challenges. She repeated the Commission’s position that responses should be balanced with the need to protect fundamental freedoms guaranteed under the Constitution.
The warning comes as joint operations by the Republic of Fiji Military Forces and the Fiji Police Force continue, aimed at disrupting drug networks. The Commission said it welcomes public commitments from security agencies that actions will comply with the Constitution, the rule of law and human rights standards, but made clear this assurance must be matched by practice. “These operations must remain consistent with Fiji’s human rights obligations, at all times,” Ms Lewaravu said.
In practical terms the Commission is closely monitoring how the military and police operate together, with specific attention to the use of force and the legality of arrests and detentions. “There must be no use of excessive force. Any use of force must be necessary, proportionate and in accordance with applicable legal requirements,” Ms Lewaravu said, reiterating the need for arrests and detentions to follow legal safeguards and for detention conditions to be humane.
The Commission also underscored the importance of accountability mechanisms remaining active during any intensified enforcement period. Independent oversight, avenues for complaints and judicial review must be preserved so victims of possible rights violations can seek redress, Ms Lewaravu said. She warned that without such checks, emergency powers or aggressive policing strategies risk entrenching discrimination and social profiling.
Beyond enforcement conduct, the Commission flagged the social consequences of heavy-handed approaches. Authorities must guard against strategies that could stigmatise or disproportionately impact particular communities on the basis of race, gender or socio-economic status, or that could further marginalise children and other vulnerable groups, Lewaravu said.
The Commission’s statement is the latest public intervention in a national debate over how to respond to rising drug-related harms. By placing human rights and accountability at the centre of the discussion, the Commission signals it will act as a monitoring and oversight presence should proposals for a State of Emergency advance or if expanded security operations continue.