The Fiji Police Force is a key player in the organization’s plan to rebuild public trust in law enforcement. As part of the new Fiji social cohesion UN joint program, it is the first agency to get human rights training.

The UN, in collaboration with national partners, created the joint program “Strengthening Social Cohesion Pathways, Human Rights and Women’s Civic Participation,” which is funded by the UN Peacebuilding Fund. Its goals are to uphold inclusive dialogues and strengthen human rights frameworks and institutions.

The whole of Government strategy introduced in April this year, has been created by the UN in conjunction with national partners to improve human rights frameworks and institutions, and foster inclusive conversations.

In her official opening remarks for the three-day training this morning, Acting Commissioner of Police Juki Fong Chew emphasized the critical connection between proactive community policing initiatives and respecting the fundamentals of human rights.

“We will restore confidence in policing, accountability, and trust once we have things right.” We make the necessary corrections and will promote the development of trust as well as cooperation and teamwork in policing endeavors.

“As professionals, we must be able to set aside our personal opinions on any issue and enforce the law as intended.”

Law enforcement officials should be viewed as the first line of defense in the fight for the advancement and defense of human rights, according to Ms. Heike Alefse, the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), who expressed similar views.

The benefits of law enforcement agencies and officers upholding human rights, according to Ms. Alefse, “build a law enforcement structure that does not rely on fear and raw power, but rather on professionalism, legality, and non-discrimination,” she continued.

She reaffirmed that the trainings are essential to altering perceptions and providing police personnel with the tools they need to meet contemporary difficulties and provide better services to the people of Fiji.

The United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), UN Women, the UNDP Pacific Office (the project’s lead agency), and my office are collaborating with the Prime Minister’s Office, the Fiji Police Force, the Online Safety Commission, and the Fiji Human Rights Anti Discrimination Commission as national counterparts.