Mr Itendra Nair, Deputy Commissioner of the Fiji Police Force,

Honourable New Zealand High Commissioner to Fiji Ms Charlotte Darlow

Representatives from the Fiji Police Force and the media

Colleagues and esteemed guests

Bula vinaka and good afternoon to all.

I am delighted to join this handover ceremony of ICT equipment with our important partners - the Fiji Police Force and New Zealand High Commission under the Fiji Police Force Support Project.  

The four-year Project in partnership with the Fiji Police Force and justice institutions aims to strengthen the protection of the rights of persons during the first hour of the arrest and an interviewing process.

This is the crucial first step for the entire justice procedure. The Project also supports the work of police in relation to the survivors and witnesses of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence including domestic violence from rights-based and survivors-centred approach.

In line with those objectives of the Project, the latest model of the ICT equipment we are handing over today will enable the Fiji Police Force to:

i) Strengthen the preparedness for the COVID-19 pandemic or any other emergency situations by digitally organizing and connecting crisis response team at the Police Headquarters and officers in other locations as required by the circumstances,

ii) Pilot two modern approaches when dealing with visitors and arrests: connecting them with the lawyer via online video conferencing, and registering new complaints and cases in a digital format using a specialized software.

I would like to acknowledge that the Fiji Police Force and UNDP together with all justice stakeholders have just concluded a very interesting planning meeting, where issues of access to justice, SGBV, modernization of the Police Force were discussed and a concrete plan for 2022 has been designed and approved.

Hence, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Deputy Commissioner Mr. Nair for his strong leadership and commitment to leading the initiative and the team towards successful achievements in protecting and promoting human rights and strengthening access to justice in Fiji. 

We are indeed grateful to the New Zealand Government for its generous support. The progress made under the Project and the achievements aimed through the project would not be possible without your support. I appreciate the long-standing partnership UNDP has with New Zealand in support of sustainable development in Fiji.

With these few words, I thank you all for your support and for being with us today for this important ceremony. I look forward to sharing with you more milestones to be made through the Project.  

Vinaka Vakalevu.