Human Rights Workhop in Levuka

A Human Rights Training for Police Officers serving the Eastern Division Maritime Zone was officially opened this morning in the Old Capital of Levuka.

The training supported by the New Zealand Foreign Affairs & Trade Aid Programme is being facilitated by the UN Human Rights Pacific, UNDP Pacific Office in Fiji and ILGA Oceania.

The Commissioner of Police Brigadier General Sitiveni Qiliho while delivering his remarks during the opening ceremony said, “Law enforcement is a profession that requires constant learning, re-evaluation, and the upskilling of personnel to be up to par with the latest developments in security issues from a national, regional and global perspective”.

Brigadier General Qiliho while addressing the officers' said, “It’s important for me to know that our officers are all on the same page with regards to developing a better understanding of their roles and responsibilities in safeguarding rights of all citizens and visitors.

This specialized training has been brought closer to you, because while you may be serving our rural maritime areas, it does not however lessen the responsibility you have in upholding the fundamental principles of human rights”.

The training supported by the New Zealand Government is part of the Fiji Police Partnership Programme which according to the New Zealand High Commission, Suva, Fiji Second Secretary (Political) Ms Courtney Rose is their commitment in working towards a more peaceful world in which all people can live in dignity and safety. “

As a Pacific nation, New Zealand is deeply connected with our region by people, culture, history and shared aspirations.

Our wellbeing is inextricably linked”.

“One of our key partnership areas is in Policing, providing training, equipment and capacity building through UNDP and the NZ Police.

A key focus area of our policing Programme is to improve human rights in the Fiji Police Force, the first hour of detention, for vulnerable groups and child victims and to improve Fiji’s human rights obligations under international law”.

The Resident Representative UNDP Pacific Office in Fiji Mr Levan Boudaze said, "The UNDP supports strengthening the early access to justice processes in criminal proceedings across the justice sector to ensure individual rights are upheld, reduction in pre-trial detention and the promotion of transparent and accountable police practices.

I hope you will learn more about this in the coming days.

He added, "The partnership and commitment by the Fijian Government and Fiji Police Force has been amazing, there is determination and where there is determination there is support, and with support we can makemuch progress in this respect".

The training ends tomorrow.