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Information & Research Services
The Commission's "Information and Research" division's function is to facilitate the provision of human rights information in digital and print form, in line with the Commission's goal to be the principal source of human rights documentation and information in Fiji.
"All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood"
Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Adopted by UNGA res. 217 A (3) of 10/12/1948.
Know your rights
The meaning of human rights
The idea of the protection and promotion of human rights in international law was born after the Second World War and was therefore enshrined in the most important international human rights document is the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
In Fiji the most important document protecting the human rights of all citizens is the 1997 Constitution. Chapter 4 of the Constitution contains the Bill of Rights. If you want to know what your rights are you should read this Chapter carefully.
The Fiji Constitution protects everyone's rights and freedoms. The Constitution also recognises group rights as well as the duty of the individual to the society in which she or he lives. Rights and responsibilities go together. This means that you cannot enforce or manifest your own rights over the rights of someone else.
The Human Rights Commission Act 1999 also contains important information about Fiji's human rights law. The Act gives certain powers and duties to the Fiji Human Rights Commission. It also describes the methods by which individuals and groups can lodge complaints to the Commission and prescribes how the Commission can deal with the complaints.
The right to be free from unfair discrimination is one of the most important
rights protected in our human rights law. A person cannot be treated less
favourably than another or unfairly discriminated against on the grounds
of any of the following:
Under Section 38 of the Constitution
* Colour
* Race,
* Gender
* Age
* Disability
* Economic status
* Religion
* Place of Birth
* Sexual Orientation
* Primary Language
* Opinions or beliefs
* Ethnic Origin
The Fiji Human Rights Commission Act No. 10 of 1999 makes unfair discrimination under any of the above grounds from Section 38 of the Constitution unlawful in certain situations including:
*employment,
*education,
*accommodation,
*professional accreditation,
*access to public places,
*membership of an employers or employees association,
*membership or application for membership of a partnership.
The Commission is empowered to investigate allegations of unfair discrimination
and violations of the rights and freedoms set out in the Bill
of Rights of the 1997 Constitution and human rights guaranteed by
International law.