Human rights are the basic rights and freedoms that every person is entitled to regardless of their race, color, nationality, ethnicity, sexual orientation, language, religion, political opinion, or any other status.
This has been highlighted by the Acting Director of Public Prosecutions David Toganivalu while opening the ODPP Annual Conference at the Warwick Fiji this morning.
Toganivalu says says most legal practitioners are aware of these universally accepted rights and freedoms but they at times run into difficulties when trying to navigate the rights versus the reality.
He says looking at the Human Rights and Rule of Law Index on the ranking of 177 countries, Fiji was ranked 94 in terms of compliance.
That is to say 1 being not compliant to 177 being compliant.
He says it is fair to say Fiji is on the better half of the scale but asks does that mean Fiji has struck the right balance?
The Acting DPP says Fiji has a Bill of Rights in the constitution and specifically, to the theme is the right from unreasonable search and seizure, rights of arrested and detained persons, the rights of accused persons, rights of children and freedom of speech, expression and publication.
Toganivalu says there is no doubt that human rights play an important role in the life of every citizen.
He adds it is the responsibility of the government and other related organisations and stakeholders to protect and promote these rights so that all individuals can lead a life of freedom and security.
The theme for this year’s conference is “Navigating a balance between human rights and the criminal law”.
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