Acting Chief Justice Kamal Kumar who is the Chairperson of the Fiji Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Commission says having lost its accredited status in 2007, the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions at its June 2021 session reviewed the compliance of the Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Commission with the Paris Principles and recommended that the Commission be accredited with B status.
He says the accreditation outcome is a fantastic result for human rights in Fiji and sends a message that the Commission is operating in accordance with international standards.
Justice Kumar adds that accreditation with the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions will also enable the institution to join global and regional human rights bodies, including the Asia Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institutions.
He says the recommendations issued by the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions Subcommittee on Accreditation indicate few concerns with technical aspects of the Commission’s legal mandate.
Justice Kumar further says the outcome of the accreditation review illustrates that the Commission is functioning independently in practice and is discharging the full breadth of its mandate to promote and protect human rights across Fiji.
He says the Commission will continue to strengthen its policies and guidelines to ensure compliance with requirements set under the Paris Principles.
