Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Commission calls for urgent action against Chat Fiji

The Fiji Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Commission expresses grave concern regarding a recent social media post published on the platform Chat (Fiji), which targets a child with hate speech, homophobic content, and serious cyberbullying.

The Director for Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Commission Loukinikini Lewaravu says the language and tone of the post are not only deeply offensive but also amount to a violation of the child’s rights and dignity including the child’s family.

She says the insensitive and malicious remarks, directed at the child, who is already experiencing serious health challenges, are deeply distressing and risk causing further emotional and psychological harm.

Lewaravu says such statements violate the rights of the child as enshrined in Fiji’s Constitution, as well as under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), to which Fiji is a State Party.

She says section 41(1)(d) of the Constitution of the Republic of Fiji, states that every child has the right to be protected from abuse, or any form of violence and inhumane treatment.

Article 16 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) guarantees every child the right to protection from arbitrary or unlawful interference with their privacy, family, and dignity.

Article 19 of CRC further obliges States to take all appropriate measures to protect children from all forms of physical or mental violence, injury or abuse. In this case, the public vilification of a child on a digital platform constitutes a clear breach of these international obligations.

The Director says last year, a life was lost after the deceased was humiliated, threatened and abused on a popular public chat forum by those commenting, some of who were anonymous account holders.

She says in light of these serious concerns, the Commission has lodged a complaint against the platform Chat (Fiji) with both, the Fiji Police Force and Online Safety Commission, calling on these institutions to initiate a thorough investigation into the administrators and operators of the platform and take swift action to shut down the platform to prevent further harm.

Lewaravu says the Commission urges all digital platforms, media outlets, and community members to uphold the rights and dignity of children and to exercise responsibility when using online spaces.

She adds everyone should live freely from abuse, discrimination, and harm—online and offline.