The coordinator of the Fiji Council of Social Services, Vani Catanasiga, has raised concerns about the government’s initiative to create a national register for humanitarian workers and disaster risk management volunteers. Ms. Catanasiga’s comments came after the National Disaster Risk Management Bill was presented in Parliament. This legislation aims to set up a Fiji cluster system for all humanitarian organizations and establish a registry for disaster response volunteers.
While she appreciates the proposed Bill, Ms. Catanasiga inquired whether government responders would be held to the same standards required of civil society organizations (CSOs) and community volunteers. She pointed out that the humanitarian actor registry in the Bill is designed to improve the standards of humanitarian response for individuals, while the disaster risk management (DRM) volunteer registry focuses on volunteer groups.
Ms. Catanasiga questioned if there would be a mechanism in place for civil servants involved in disaster response that would commit them to adhering to the Core Humanitarian Standards (CHS). She believes that the Bill would be more effective if it included regulations for state responders as well.
The proposed Bill was introduced to Parliament by Ratu Rakuita Vakalalabure, chairperson of the Standing Committee on Justice, Law and Human Rights. He stated that a Fiji cluster system would facilitate better coordination among all humanitarian actors and volunteer organizations, requiring them to formally register their intentions to participate in disaster response efforts. He emphasized that the provisions for disaster risk management volunteers are intended to create a protective framework, ensuring that volunteers are safeguarded from potential violations during their work in disaster response situations.