Many turn up for human rights, justice outreach
Residents of Vunicuicui and Vuniyalayala settlement in Labasa turned up in numbers for the Human Rights Community Outreach Programme over the weekend.
The United Nations-funded programme focuses on raising awareness on human rights and access to justice.
Stakeholders from the Department of Women, Social Welfare, Ministry of Youth, UNDP, Fiji Police Force, and the Fiji Human Rights and Anit-Discrimination Commission are part of the team visiting the Northern Division. Human rights community advocate Shanil Mohammed said they had identified, through the youth clubs in the district, that people weren’t aware of how to access justice.
“The aim of this outreach programme is to make people aware of their individual rights and access to justice and the relevant authorities that can provide assistance and support in terms of their rights, such as the assistance from legal aid,” Mr Mohammed said.
“This is a great opportunity for the community as we are bringing this awareness to their doorsteps, and at the same time it is a great achievement and exposure for the stakeholders.
“The various departments highlighted the roles and services they provide to the communities.
“The community members were very delighted as it was the first time that such information were disseminated to them.” Mr Mohammed said community members looked forward to such programmes in the future.
The outreach programme will be conducted in Vuniika next.