Fiji

Date of admission to UN: 13 October 1970.

Treaties and Reports to Treaty Bodies

Land and People: Fiji has submitted a core document (HRI/CORE/1/Add.76) for use by the treaty bodies. The report prepared by the government contains demographic and statistical data and information on the economic system. There is some commentary as well on the political system, noting that the 1990 Constitution emphasizes fundamental rights and freedoms. The report states that, while guaranteeing special rights of protection and privileges to indigenous Fijians, the Constitution does not deny to others the rights to life, liberty, security of person, expression, assembly and association and protection of privacy. The report acknowledges that some provisions of the Constitution have proven to be contentious. A Constitution Review Commission was established to carry out the required review of the Constitution and was scheduled to present its report by the end of June 1996.

Racial Discrimination

Succeeded: 11 January 1973.

Fiji’s sixth through 12th periodic reports (covering the period 1984­1996) have not been submitted; the 12th periodic report was due 11 January 1996.

Reservations and Declarations: Articles 2, 3 and 4; paragraphs (c), (d) (v), and (e) (v) of article 5; article 6; article 15.

Discrimination against Women

Acceded: 28 August 1995.

Fiji’s initial report was due 27 September 1996.

Reservations and Declarations: Paragraph (a) of article 5; article 9.

Rights of the Child

Signed: 2 July 1993; ratified: 13 August 1993.

Fiji’s initial report (CRC/C/28/Add.7) has been submitted and is pending for consideration at the Committee’s May 1998 session; the second periodic report is due 11 September 2000.