Access To Justice Should Be Consistent With Human Rights Says Human Rights Commission Director

The Fiji Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination director Ashwin Raj says access to justice needs to be in line with human rights.

He made the comment while delivering his address on the topic of ‘Human Rights – Constitutional Rights and Safeguards’ at the three-day Legal Aid Commission Regional Conference yesterday. The conference is being held at the InterContinental Fiji Golf Resort and Spa in Natadola.

“Access to justice is not simply about remedying injustice through formal and informal institutions but it also needs to be consistent with human rights standards,” Mr Raj said.

“So the conversation between access to justice, the Legal Aid Commission and the National Human Rights Commission is an inextricable one.

“We are inextricably woven into each other’s fabric and for the most part where there is no conflict of interest we work collectively in ensuring that access to justice is consistent with human rights values.”

Mr Raj added one thing that needed to be thoroughly thought through in the development of jurisprudence was ensuring the measures were fair and not arbitrary.

Edited by Ranoba Baoa

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