The Fiji Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Commission has raised serious concerns over the country’s continued designation on the Tier 2 Watch List in the 2025 Trafficking in Persons Report. This ranking highlights ongoing shortcomings in prevention strategies, victim protection, and the prosecution of offenders, which could foster a culture of impunity.
Commission Director Loukinikini Lewaravu noted that this marks Fiji’s second consecutive year on the watch list, indicating “persistent and serious gaps and deficiencies” in the nation’s efforts against human trafficking. The report indicates troubling deficiencies, particularly the absence of recent prosecutions despite numerous human trafficking allegations reported to local authorities.
While the Commission recognized some positive steps taken by the government, such as updates to the National Action Plan and improved inter-agency collaboration, these efforts have not yet produced substantial outcomes. Lewaravu cautioned, “Procedural progress without consequential accountability falls short of the State’s human rights obligations.” He warned that the current trajectory could normalize impunity and prevent victims from attaining the justice and remedies they need.
Human trafficking is deemed a grave violation of essential human rights, including dignity, liberty, and freedom from slavery—all protected under Fiji’s Constitution and international conventions such as the Palermo Protocol. The Commission asserts that addressing this urgent concern requires renewed political will focused on victim support, accountability, and dismantling systemic structures that allow exploitation.
As an independent national human rights body, the Commission is calling for urgent action from the government, advocating for immediate and independent investigations into all trafficking allegations, including cases involving influential individuals. It also stresses the need to strengthen measures against complicity by officials, while establishing a survivor-centered victim protection framework, providing targeted training for law enforcement and prosecutors, and ensuring transparency in public reports on the National Action Plan’s implementation.
Lewaravu emphasized that human trafficking poses a significant challenge to the state’s commitment to human rights and the rule of law. He expressed the Commission’s readiness to collaborate with the government and civil society to formulate a comprehensive, rights-based response that honors human dignity and ensures justice for victims. This cooperative approach sheds light on a hopeful path toward improved responsiveness and accountability in addressing human trafficking in Fiji.