Widespread distrust in both traditional and modern leadership structures is driving disengagement, and communities cited limited transparency and weak accountability.
This has been shared by the Fiji Council of Social Services as part of their Christmas message today.
They have also presented the Outcome Statement from the National Dialogue on Pathways to Peace as both a gift of hope and a practical roadmap for the nation’s future.
FCOSS says there are perceptions of self-interest among leaders, leading to calls for leadership grounded in integrity and service, and rising living costs, unemployment, and inequitable access to resources, are placing families under pressure and contributing to social tension and crime.
FCOSS says gaps in essential services such as water, health, education, and infrastructure undermine community well-being and trust in institutions.
They say at the same time, ethnic, religious, and generational divides continue to challenge national unity.
The Council says the dialogue, which brought together voices from all four divisions of Fiji, delivered a clear and powerful message that sustainable peace begins with strong families and connected communities.
They say at a time centred on togetherness, the enduring principle that “it takes a village to raise a child” resonates more strongly than ever.
FCOSS says the Outcome Statement calls on all Fijians to embrace shared responsibility to support families, uphold leadership with integrity, and ensure that every citizen has the opportunity to thrive.
They say their message is more than a reflection of public sentiment; it is a collaborative framework for action.
FCOSS offers it as both a commitment to the nation and an invitation to partner with government, civil society, and all Fijians who believe in a better future.
The FCOSS National Dialogue on Pathways to Peace brought together 40 representatives from 22 District Councils of Social Services (DCOSS) and five national NGOs on 20th December.
FCOSS adds that across all dialogue, participants identified interconnected challenges that must be addressed holistically - the crisis of the family, weakening family structures, were consistently identified as a root cause of youth delinquency, crime, and declining social values.
They say their priority is advocating for a National Policy on Family Resilience, alongside community-led parenting, psychosocial support, and mentorship programmes.
FCOSS says they will promote mechanisms that strengthen transparency, accountability, and meaningful community participation, including leadership integrity initiatives and independent accountability processes, and support equitable economic opportunities, especially for youth and women in rural communities, through social enterprises, financial literacy, and fair resource management.
They say empowering communities to monitor service delivery and advocate for reliable access to water, health, education, and infrastructure, recognising these as fundamental rights of all Fijians, through inclusive dialogue, and will work to bridge ethnic, religious, and generational divides, celebrating diversity while strengthening a shared national identity.
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