The Fiji Truth and Reconciliation Commission may conduct private hearings, according to the Fiji Truth and Reconciliation Commission Bill presented to Parliament last Friday.
The Bill emphasizes the necessity for the commission to consider the needs and safety of survivors and witnesses when calling for statements, including addressing security concerns for those hesitant to share their experiences publicly.
Furthermore, the Bill specifies that the commission must refrain from identifying individuals in its events, public statements, reports, or recommendations, ensuring that personal information that could reveal an individual’s identity is not disclosed.
Additionally, the commission is empowered to establish special protocols to support specific groups of survivors, such as children or those who have experienced sexual abuse, as well as to engage with child offenders of such abuses.
Decisions made by the commission are required to be reached by consensus whenever possible, and in the absence of consensus, a majority vote among the commissioners will determine the outcome.