The Fiji NGO Coalition on Human Rights (NGOCHR) is extremely disappointed and disturbed by recent comments made by the Prime Minister, Voreqe Bainimarama, on marriage equality.

According to recent media reports, the Prime Minister was quoted as saying, “as long as we are in Government – Fiji will not allow same-sex marriage” at an event in Tailevu recently.

“The Prime Minister has shared similar homophobic sentiments in the past,” organisation chair Nalini Singh said.

The 2013 Constitution prohibits discrimination against people on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity and gender expression.

“The LGBTQI community is already marginalised within our society and these comments made by someone in authority, such as the Prime Minister, are extremely dangerous and only exacerbate the existing discrimination against members of the LGBTQI community.”

Mr Bainimarama’s comments, Ms Nalini said, also “threaten the progress made towards human rights by Fiji and especially as the country currently sits as Vice Chair of the UN Human Rights Council, which is a body, which respects, promotes and protects human rights for everyone.

“Fiji has been commended for having sexu-al orientation as a status protected from discrimination as far back as the 1997 Constitution and the inclusion of Gender Identity under the 2013 Constitution.

“Same sex couples and parents are not recognised.

“Even within the Family Law Act 2005, “de facto relationship” is interpreted as a relationship between a man and a woman who live with each other as spouses on a genuine domestic basis although not legally married to each other,” she said.

“Families existing outside of the norm are marginalised, overlooked and stigmatised.

“It’s important not to reinforce these discriminatory structures and regressive ideologies. Instead, we should be promoting equality, human rights and non-discrimination for all Fijians.”