Background

In August, a Supreme Court ruling affirmed the validity of the 2013 Constitution, including the immunities of those involved in the 2006 coup, among others, and lowered the requirements for future amendments to the Constitution.

Despite Israel’s genocide in Gaza and other crimes under international law throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT), Fiji either abstained or voted against UN resolutions supporting Palestinian refugees, statehood, ceasefire, humanitarian access and an end to Israel’s unlawful occupation of the OPT.

Freedom of expression and assembly

Following January’s UPR of Fiji’s human rights record, the government refused to accept recommendations to reform repressive laws restricting civic freedoms. The Fijians for Palestine Solidarity Network protested throughout the year against Israel’s genocide in Gaza and the Fiji government’s failure to uphold its obligations under law. This failure included restricting protest actions in Fiji.

Freedom of religion

A man was arrested and referred for psychiatric care after vandalizing a Hindu shrine in July. The following month, the Shree Baba Ragho Dass Vishnu Temple in Sawani was stoned. These serious attacks on Hindu places of worship sparked urgent calls from Hindu leaders for stronger protection and decisive government action on freedom of religion and racial discrimination.

Gender-based violence

Women continued to face high levels of gender-based violence, as highlighted by the CEDAW Committee in July. In April, a series of domestic violence incidents resulted in the deaths of three women and one being left seriously injured. In May, the police commissioner reported a 19% surge in violence against women compared with 2024, prompting concern over the country’s deep-rooted patriarchal norms and the urgent need for systemic reforms.

Right to a healthy environment

In July, the Ministry of Justice supported the International Court of Justice’s advisory opinion on states’ legal obligations regarding climate change, reinforcing Fiji’s commitment to global climate accountability. In September, Pacific leaders signed the Pacific Resilience Facility treaty during the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders’ meeting in the Solomon Islands, establishing a regional fund aimed at strengthening climate resilience and disaster preparedness across the Pacific. It was unclear if this was new, additional funding to address the climate crisis.