Fiji intends to contest a seat on the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council at elections in October this year in Geneva, Switzerland.

The announcement was made by Attorney-General and Minister for Economy Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum in his 2018-2019 Budget Address in Parliament last Thursday (June 28).

$300,000 has been allocated for in this I new initiative by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs .

The Minister for Economy said that the two missions, Geneva and New York would lobby support for Fiji’s bid for a seat on the UNHRC.

Other new initiatives for the ministry include:

θ   $1m allocated for the upgrade of  the Wellington Mission; and

θ $160,000 allocated for the digitisation of the document management system to improve information and document management.

Ongoing initiatives include:

θ  Maintaining Fiji’s strong leadership role in regional and international organisations and working to meet the goals of various international agreements;

θ Membership in regional and international forums: Maintain Fiji’s membership and representation in international and regional forums, such as the United Nations and Melanesian Spearhead Group ($3.9m);

θ Pacific Islands Development Forum (PIDF) Secretariat: funds the operation of the PIDF Secretariat in Suva.

The PIDF is a regional partnership platform where leaders and representatives of Pacific Small Developing States and territories can address regional development challenges ($1.3m); and

θ Advancing Fijian interests through overseas and consular services: $150,000 is allocated for capital procurements of office equipment and furniture for all the missions based on priority needs.

Edited by Epineri Vula

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