Semunegus visits FHRADC office
USAID mission director to the Pacific Zema Semunegus paid a courtesy visit to the Fiji Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Commission (FHRADC) office in Lautoka yesterday.
Speaking to this newspaper yesterday Ms Semunegus said USAID had funded the Lautoka office which was opened earlier this month.
“It’s the first of many steps that we have been able to be part of in bringing the commission’s services closer to the community,” she said.
“Especially those living in remote areas.
“We are very excited that the commission is doing a remarkable job, and I’m here because this is one of the success stories we have under our USAID project governance program spearheaded by the Pacific Community (SPC).”
Ms Semunegus said USAID was proud of the program under which human rights in Fiji could be supported.
“Fiji is one of the three countries in the Pacific that’s been able to set up its own commissions.
“We have supported training that is needed for staff on the commission’s public website that is available to Fijians.
“The training has also involved the development and use of the commission’s information management system, particularly the complaints module.
“And also, the help related to implementing recommendations from an independent 2020 capacity assessment.”
USAID senior democracy and governance specialist Gerado Porta said for the last seven years USAID has been supporting the work of the Human Rights AntiDiscrimination Commission.
“Particularly in terms of outreach and improving intake mechanisms,” he said.
“It is an exciting development to see that the Fiji Government has decided to set up this office outside of Suva. Because it is about making human rights accessible to people.”
FHRADC director Loukinikini Lewaravu said the governance program provided support to Human Rights Commission offices across the Pacific.
“We have had some close working relationships with them in areas that we see would help strengthen the commission,” Ms Lewaravu said.
“So, this is part of their support that they helped us in the launch of the new office and the workshop that we had prior to the launch this month.”