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Fiji Human Rights Commission urges people to refrain from making racially-driven jokes against the Asian community

Fiji Human Rights Commission urges people to refrain from making racially-driven jokes against the Asian community

By Vijay Narayan
04/02/2020
Fiji Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Commission Director, Ashwin Raj

The Fiji Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Commission is urging everyone to refrain from making racially-driven jokes, stereotyping and passing prejudicial remarks against the Asian community in light of the outbreak of the Novel Coronavirus.

Director, Ashwin Raj says social media is saturated with jokes and comments that are disparaging and denigrating towards the Chinese community in particular.

Raj says there should be no room for racial profiling based on peoples’ ethnicity, nationality, physical appearance, the type of food they consume or their lifestyle.

The Commission Director says fear and anxiety should not be used to fuel racism.

The Commission urges all members of the public to denounce such acts, refrain from spreading false information and adhere to the advice from the Ministry of Health.

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