WELLINGTON (Radio New Zealand International/ Pacific Beat/ Pacific Media Watch): Fiji has joined Australia in bidding for membership of the United Nations Human Rights Council.
Fiji's Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama has told the UN General Assembly that Fiji will continue to champion the cause of the Pacific Islands Developing States, if elected to the council.
He said Fiji had a unique perspective of the world to share with the international human rights community, highlighting the detrimental effects of climate change.
Bainimarama said it was not acceptable for advanced economies to build a high standard of living on the degradation of the earth and the seas.
But former Fiji Human Rights Commissioner Shamima Ali said Fiji had a lot more work to do before it should consider joining the United Nations Human Rights Council.
Ali said Fiji had work to do on human rights at home before taking to the international stage.
“We also need to have a review of the decree, that is not in keeping with the universal standards of human rights.”
Ali said although “verbal” commitments have been made to address the human rights standards in Fiji, the people “need to see that done”.
Council criticisms
There has been criticism of the Human Rights Council over many countries with poor human rights records becoming members, including Saudi Arabia which has just been appointed as its head.
Australia has also made a bid for council membership from 2018 to 2020.
Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said Australia is an international leader in advancing the rights of women and girls, strengthening governance and democratic institutions, and promoting freedom of expression.
However, Canberra has been at loggerheads with UN agencies over violating conventions it has signed up to, such as the jailing of asylum seeker children.
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