Vani Catanasiga, the coordinator of the Fiji Council of Social Services (FCOSS), has raised concerns about the government’s initiative to create a national register for humanitarian workers and disaster risk management volunteers. Her comments come in response to the introduction of the National Disaster Risk Management Bill in Parliament, which seeks to establish a comprehensive Fiji cluster system for all humanitarian organizations, along with a registry for disaster response volunteers.
While Catanasiga welcomes the proposed legislation, she questions whether government responders will be held to the same standards as civil society organizations (CSOs) and community volunteers. She noted, “FCOSS believes the new Bill enhances our accountability as non-State actors and development partners. However, we are curious if the government responders will adhere to the same standards.”
She highlighted that the proposed humanitarian actor registry aims to set better standards specifically for individuals, while the disaster risk management volunteer organization registry focuses on volunteer groups. Catanasiga asked whether there would be a mechanism in place that commits civil servants as responders to the Core Humanitarian Standards (CHS).
Catanasiga emphasized that the proposed Bill would be more effective if it included provisions for State responders. “FCOSS, which has recently joined the CHS Alliance, believes that if the Act covers civil service responders’ registration, it would be robust enough to achieve its goals. Without this inclusion, I’m concerned that the Bill may not fully meet its objectives.”
The National Disaster Risk Management Bill was presented by Ratu Rakuita Vakalalabure, chairperson of the Standing Committee on Justice, Law, and Human Rights, during a recent parliamentary session. He stated that the Fiji cluster system would enhance coordination among all humanitarian actors and volunteering organizations, requiring them to formally register when they wish to engage in disaster response efforts. “The goal is to provide a protective framework for volunteers, ensuring they are safeguarded from any potential violations during disaster response activities,” said Ratu Rakuita.