Youth Human Rights Community Advocates Train in Kadavu
More than 25 youth members of communities in the Kadavu Islands, Eastern Division of Fiji assembled to commemorate Human Rights Day. Human Rights Day is held at the culmination of the 16 Days of Activism campaign to end violence against women.
It is part of the two-day sessions which concluded yesterday, for youths as community advocates for human rights, jointly co-ordinated by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights for the Pacific Region (OHCHR Pacific) and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Pacific Office in Fiji.
The human rights sessions for youths aimed to strengthen their understanding of the principles and practice of human rights with a focus on gender equality, and to amplify their voice for positive social change.
The session opened in Namalata Primary School, Vunisea, Kadavu. Youth participants reflected their years of experience in their respective fields, which is recognised as resource to stand up for human rights.
They also discussed the human rights issues which they will focus on and advocate for.
Participants discussed issues with a legal expert from the Legal Aid Commission. The Fiji Police Force was expected to provide advice on how to report on domestic violence and gender-based violence.
The initiative on community advocates for human rights is supported through the Fiji Access to Justice Project funded by the European Union (EU) and implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
The Project was engaging a network of community advocates to extend rights knowledge to those in the most remote communities and establish a network of frontlines for public legal rights education and outreach work.