In a strong move to bolster refugee protection in the Pacific, Fiji’s Ministry of Immigration, alongside the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), has launched a two-day workshop focused on the fundamentals of Refugee Status Determination (RSD).
Speaking at the opening of the workshop this morning, Acting Director for Immigration, Taraivini Savou highlighted the event as a key milestone in strengthening Fiji’s asylum and refugee protection framework.
She says the workshop builds upon the Ministry’s strong partnership with UNHCR, and reflects their joint commitment to improving both the policy and practical elements of refugee protection in Fiji.
Savou noted that successful consultations held earlier this year in February and June helped refine the Ministry and UNHCR’s Standard Operating Procedures and laid the groundwork for Fiji’s first-ever National Refugee Policy.
She stresses that the Ministry must carry out its responsibilities with honesty and professionalism, as the decisions made by immigration officers can greatly affect the lives of vulnerable people seeking safety in the country.
UNHCR Protection Officer Sarah Mansour reminded participants that Thursday, 20th June, marks World Refugee Day — a time to honour the resilience and courage of refugees, and the countries, like Fiji, that offer them safety and hope.
She noted that the situation for forcibly displaced people worldwide has become even more urgent, and as of mid-2024, an estimated 122.6 million people have been forcibly displaced globally.
She says these are not just statistics — they represent people with lives, hopes, and stories, forced to flee persecution, conflict, violence, and human rights violations.
Mansour adds that of those displaced, nearly 43.7 million are classified as refugees and others in need of international protection, while 8 million are asylum seekers.
She stresses that the global resources available to support them are at an all-time low.
The protection officer also adds that Fiji will take part in the inaugural Regional Refugee Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue on Thursday, 12th June, aimed at encouraging regional responsibility-sharing and closer cooperation across governments, NGOs, and communities.
Mansour says the two-day Refugee Status Determination workshop not only revisits core RSD principles but also focuses on practical applications, giving Fiji’s immigration officers the tools to process asylum cases under the new joint SOP.
She says the key goal of the training is to ensure participants leave with a solid grasp of how to apply RSD principles effectively, in line with both Fiji’s national laws and its international obligations.
