My Govt Against All Forms of Violence

Suva

I have read your article titled: ‘PM: My Government Against All Forms of Violence’, in the Fiji Sun (07/02/19) with deep interest. I must say that I am deeply impressed with what our Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama had to say at the (United Nations Convention against Torture) UNCAT seminar at the InterContinental Fiji Golf Resort and Spa.

Firstly, as a Fijian, I feel very proud that our country, under the dynamic leadership of the Prime Minister, is playing a pivotal role on the world stage.

COP23 is still fresh in our minds and now the UNCAT Seminar enforces Fiji’s role as the hub of the Pacific and a leader in its own right. The Prime Minister has very ably highlighted the culture of silence in the Pacific communities and subtle acceptance of violence. Violence in homes, violence in schools by teachers and bullies, violence by the Police while handling suspects, violence in our corrections centres and violence in work places.

It is heartening to note that the FijiFirst Government has taken a number of measures to enhance human rights.

Starting with the Bill of Rights in our Constitution, the easy provision of legal services in various centres of the country, improvement in the interrogation techniques by the Police such as video recordings, investment in a new detention centre for women in Lautoka, banning corporal punishment in schools and the like.

After the events of 1987, Fiji saw an unprecedented increase in violence against people in the form of home invasions, road blocks, sexual assaults, robbery with violence and racial violence. Thank God all this will be a thing of the past with the ratification of UNCAT by Fiji. Thank you very much Prime Minister.