Fiji’s faith communities have been urged to lead efforts in healing historical wounds, strengthening social cohesion and building a more inclusive and resilient nation.
Speaking during Interfaith Fiji Dialogue on social cohesion, community building and faith-based climate and disaster response at the Sacred Heart Cathedral in Suva, Minister for Women, Children and Social Protection Shashi Kiran says Fiji’s diversity remains one of its greatest strengths, with different cultures, religions and traditions united by shared values of compassion, respect, service and care for vulnerable people.
She says social cohesion is not only about communities living peacefully together, but whether people feel they belong, are respected and believe their voices matter.
Insert: Kiran on social cohesion 17th Sept 26
Kiran says Fiji’s history includes painful experiences such as displacement, the legacy of blackbirding, loss of land, political upheavals and periods where ethnicity and religion were used to divide people.
She says these experiences have left wounds that have sometimes been passed from one generation to another through fear, insecurity and stereotypes.
Kiran says the Fiji Truth and Reconciliation process is important because the country needs a safe space to acknowledge its history, understand past pain and choose a pathway towards healing.
She stresses that reconciliation cannot only be the responsibility of government or a single commission, but must be practised daily in homes, schools, workplaces, villages, settlements and places of worship.
She further says religious teachings across different faiths promote compassion, humility, justice and service, and communities must teach children to be proud of their own identity without looking down on others.
Kiran also raised concerns about the impact of social media, saying while communities have worked hard over generations to build unity, online platforms can also create division through misinformation, racial comments and harmful speech.
Meanwhile, Social Cohesion Specialist Rafael Aslanu says social cohesion is about the level of trust within society and whether people feel they are part of the community and able to contribute to its growth.
He says social cohesion has three important dimensions, including trust between people and leaders, relationships between different communities and faith groups, and how global events affect communities locally.
Aslanu says social cohesion does not mean everyone must agree on everything or that differences should disappear.
He says it is about people with different identities, cultures and beliefs choosing to cooperate and work together.
He adds that faith communities have a major role because they are among the most trusted institutions in Fiji and are present in almost every community.
