As Fiji grapples with the escalating challenges of a drug crisis, the urgent need for support has become increasingly apparent. Japan has stepped in to assist through a partnership with UNICEF that focuses on protecting the most vulnerable members of society—children—by helping them steer clear of drugs.
This four-year initiative, which will run from 2026 to 2030, represents a significant investment of $5.48 million, fully funded by Japan. The collaboration comes at a pivotal moment, with Fiji Police reporting 2,446 drug-related incidents, including 50 involving minors, between May 2024 and May 2025. Alarmingly, school-related drug cases have surged from 2,400 in 2021 to 3,143 in 2025, highlighting the pressing need for intervention.
UNICEF Pacific Representative Hamish Young emphasized that these figures represent real lives at risk and are not merely statistics. The initiative aims to take a holistic approach to protection, combining both “hard” and “soft” strategies. On the hard side, child-friendly safe rooms will be established in hospitals, and private interview spaces will be created in police stations to prevent the re-traumatization of young victims. Meanwhile, the soft approach will include parenting programs, life skills development, and psychosocial support.
Over the next four years, the initiative is expected to reach more than 150,000 students, offer intensive assistance to 10,000 at-risk adolescents, and equip nearly 3,000 frontline workers—including teachers, police officers, and healthcare providers—with the necessary skills to intervene and protect vulnerable youth.
Japan’s Ambassador to Fiji, Hiroshi Tajima, highlighted the broader significance of this collaboration, stating that it reflects Japan’s vision for a Free and Open Indo-Pacific, with human security as a foundation for peace. He referred to this partnership as part of the “Lomavata-Kizuna Partnership,” symbolizing unity and mutual trust.
The project aligns closely with Fiji’s National Counternarcotics Strategy and the Child Justice Act of 2024, ensuring that support mechanisms are in place so no child falls through the cracks of the system. Minister for Women, Children, and Social Protection, Sashi Kiran, asserted the commitment to not leave vulnerable children to navigate these challenges alone, pledging to provide early support and guidance toward safe and healthy paths away from drugs and harm.
In the spirit of the Pacific saying, “It takes a village to raise a child,” this partnership signifies that Japan and UNICEF are becoming integral parts of Fiji’s community, united in their mission to safeguard the nation’s most precious asset—its children.
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