The Fiji NGO Coalition on Human Rights says they are extremely disappointed and disturbed by recent comments made by the Prime Minister, Voreqe Bainimarama, on same sex marriage.
Chairperson Nalini Singh says Bainimarama has shared similar homophobic sentiments in the past.
She says the 2013 Constitution prohibits discrimination against people on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity and gender expression adding the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Queer and Intersex community is already marginalised within our society and these comments made by someone in authority, such as the Prime Minister, are extremely dangerous and only exacerbate the existing discrimination against members of the LGBTQI community.
Singh claims the Prime Minister’s comments also threaten the progress made towards human rights by Fiji and especially as the country currently sits as Vice Chair of the UN Human Rights Council, which is a body, which respects, promotes and protects human rights for everyone.
She says it is important not to reinforce these discriminatory structures and regressive ideologies adding the Prime Minister has continued to reiterate in the past, all Fijians are equal no matter who they are or where they come from.
She claims a lot remains to be done to promote a culture of equality, respect, inclusiveness and diversity encompassing all Fijians and they stand in solidarity with LGBTQI people in Fiji and around the world.
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