Building social cohesion requires individuals to take time to heal and reconcile their differences within their personal lives, relationships, families, and communities. This message was emphasized by Assistant Minister for Women, Children, and Social Protection, Sashi Kiran, during her closing remarks at the Negotiations and Mediation Training held at the Pearl Resort on Friday.
Kiran stated that the skills gained from such training should first be practiced in our own lives to help us understand their effects before applying them in broader contexts. She noted that each individual contributes to the collective peace of society, and as individuals foster their own inner peace, they contribute to a peaceful community.
She highlighted the Prime Minister’s initiative of creating an “ocean of peace,” which has garnered positive responses from regional and global partners. The Coalition Government, according to Kiran, remains fully committed to promoting social cohesion and healing as a means to establish a peaceful future in Fiji.
Kiran reflected on the tough discussions surrounding the Truth and Reconciliation Bill, noting the deep emotional wounds expressed by participants. She pointed out that younger generations are also affected by past events, not just through stories they’ve heard, but from the suffering they have witnessed in their families.
Expressing concern over the lingering pain within the country, Kiran stated the importance of creating safe spaces for sharing and healing, with the establishment of the Fiji Truth and Reconciliation Commission being a critical step in this process. Without such initiatives, she warned that future generations might inherit narratives of pain, hindering their prospects for a hopeful and peaceful future.