May 11, 2023
The UPR is a mechanism by the UN to evaluate and monitor the state on how the Rights of all People Universally is Respected, Promoted and Protected by countries who are members of the United Nations. In this way the Government, Civil societies and NGOs submit written reports based on their work to UN Human Rights Council on thematic areas of their work like Climate Change, Biodiversity, Economic Policies, Good Governance, Education, Health, Vulnerable Communities, Poverty etc. so that the relevant laws and policies relating to these issues may amended and improved. This process happens every 4 years for the 193 member countries and this year Tonga and Tahiti are being reviewed while Fiji’s turn is next year.
The challenge is that to get a good report the Civil Societies and NGOs has to first come together and combined all their Priorities or Thematic areas together so that they can all speak up together. This takes time and resources as not all CSOs and NGOs are available or able to take part. For now only 12 CSOs and NGOs are the Working Group from Fiji and JPIC is the only Faith based organisation that brings in the perspective of Faith, Indigenous people, Poor, Vulnerable communities and Earth.
UPR report review.
While we have our internal mechanism of raising the voices of Earth and the Poor to our government directly, UPR is a more synodal way of bringing the diverse networks and people on a regional and global level. This process too is a continuous cycle which can help in monitoring and implementation of our own priorities and help us to be on par with what the government is doing and how we as a church can contribute to its fulfilment together with our networks of friends.
The group examines the processes how we can contribute effectively.
This program is led by the Citizen Constitutional Forum as they are the Secretariat(CCF) and supported the UN Human Rights Office HQ here in Suva. In this training workshop we went through the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and all its mechanisms and how we can effectively use to promote the work of Justice as our Justice systems are regulated by International laws and Conventions which Fiji is a signatory to. This is how we can hold our government accountable.
Our contribution towards this important work is being appreciated and useful as the Columbans Mission for Justice and Peace for all People and Creation is also one of the main founding principle of the United Nation and our work compliments and add value towards this mission which is why we are frequently invited to participate in UN events.
Lucrissa Nair Executive Director of CCF and Ms Heike UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in the pacific opens our session.
Summary Submission presentation by our groups.