OFFICERS have been trained on human rights, conflict resolution, and community-based policing.
Their training included sessions on the rights of women, children, and marginalised groups, as well as online abuse and freedom of expression at Lautoka in Fiji’s Western Division
The 30 officers also engaged with experts from the Fiji Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Commission and the Online Safety Commission, gaining insights into legal frameworks and online safety procedures.
The workshop, under the Joint United Nations Peacebuilding Fund’s Strengthening Social
Cohesion Pathways, Human Rights and Women’s Civic Participation project aimed to equip officers with practical skills.
These included conflict de-escalation, identification of hate speech and racist rhetoric, and communication strategies to foster public trust.
It is part of a broader national reconciliation and social cohesion effort led by the government.
The workshop Sessions also covered international human rights standards, the use of force and accountability under the Convention Against Torture, and the rights of vulnerable groups including children, persons with disabilities, and women.
Fiji Police Officer in Command for Internal Affairs Western Division, ASP Temesi Tuwai said:
“A focal to this training has been social cohesion, which generally refers to the strength of relationships and the sense of belonging within a group or society. Binding elements being trust, and for any of us to gain anyone’s trust, we need to conduct ourselves in a manner that is trustworthy and honest.’’
UNDP Pacific Office Project Manager, Raphael Asuliwonnu, added: “Policing in a democracy is not about power or control — it’s about service, guided by the rule of law and anchored in human rights and human dignity. The way policing is done directly impacts cohesion, and trust in the community.”