Rights commission urges enforcement as Fiji remains on trafficking watch list

Fiji’s Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Commission has urged the State to shift urgently from policy development to enforcement, with a stronger focus on victim-centred justice and accountability across all levels of government.

The call comes as Fiji remains on the Tier 2 Watch List for a second consecutive year in the 2025 Trafficking in Persons Report, prompting the commission to warn that the country risks normalising impunity for human trafficking offenders.

The commission said Fiji continues to face serious and persistent failures in preventing human trafficking, identifying victims and holding perpetrators accountable, despite recent procedural reforms by the State.

While the Government has updated its National Action Plan and improved inter-agency coordination, the commission said external assessments showed these measures had not translated into effective action. It pointed to the absence of prosecutions even in cases where allegations had been reported to authorities.

“Procedural progress without consequential accountability falls short of the State’s human rights obligations,” the commission said, warning that continued inaction undermines justice for victims and weakens public confidence in the rule of law.

The commission said the lack of proactive investigations, effective prosecutions and convictions highlighted critical weaknesses in Fiji’s anti-trafficking response, leaving victims without protection or effective remedies.

It stressed that human trafficking is a serious violation of fundamental rights, including dignity, liberty and freedom from slavery, all of which are protected under Fiji’s 2013 Constitution and international treaties such as the Palermo Protocol.

Calling for renewed political will, the commission urged the State to prioritise enforcement and accountability, with particular emphasis on victim-centred justice across all levels of government.

Key recommendations included independent and timely investigations into all trafficking allegations, including cases involving influential individuals, stronger measures to prevent and punish official complicity, and the full operationalisation of survivor-centred victim protection systems.

The commission also called for increased resourcing and specialised training for frontline agencies, as well as transparent implementation of the National Action Plan through measurable benchmarks and regular public reporting.

Describing human trafficking as a test of Fiji’s commitment to human rights and the rule of law, the commission said it was ready to engage constructively with the Government and stakeholders to ensure victims are protected and perpetrators are brought to justice.