Walande, climate displacement and human rights
Over decades, the small community of Walande has seen their offshore home in Solomon Islands battered by cyclones, storm surges and sea level rise. Relocating to the mainland of Malaita—the nation’s most populous
Information and Empathy
Cook Islands was the first Pacific nation to pass laws relating to right to information, but Ombudsman Niki Rattle says it may be time to review it and “have a look and see how we can do things better”. The Freedom
WCPFC head urges action on climate change and human rights
Rhea Moss-Christian, the executive director of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) has called for urgent action to address the impacts of climate change and human rights abuses in the fishing
Guam law firm lodges human rights complaint against U.S military
A Guam-based law firm has filed charges of human rights abuse against the U.S military, alleging violations of Chamoru people's indigenous rights to
Marshall Islands wins UN Human Rights Council seat with climate, nuclear justice agenda
Marshall Islands was elected on Wednesday to sit on the United Nations Human Rights Council from next year, with climate change and nuclear justice as its top
UN rights council examines nuclear legacy consequences in the Marshall Islands
The UN Human Rights Council convened a dialogue on Friday to examine the nuclear testing legacy in the Marshall
Marshall Islands calls for global accountability on Climate, Nuclear testing, and Human rights at UNGA
The President of Marshall Islands, Dr Hilda Heine delivered a powerful address at the 79th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), urging world leaders to confront the most pressing issues of climate change, nuclear
New EU regulations challenge Fiji’s fairtrade producers
A balancing act between global standards and local realities Fair trade practices in Fiji are under increasing scrutiny as new international regulations push producers to meet stringent environmental and human rights
Opinion: Pacific justice is a shared responsibility
By Kate Schuetze, Amnesty International, Acting Deputy Regional Director for Research This coming week will see a crucial moment for states and territories in the Pacific to express their views on challenges the region
Fiji, PNG fail to secure UN human rights mission to Indonesia’s Papuan provinces
No progress has been made in sending a UN human rights mission to Indonesia’s Papuan provinces despite the appointment of Fiji and Papua New Guinea’s prime ministers to negotiate the visit. Pacific Island leaders
SOGIESC activists rally for inclusivity and justice
Advocates for SOGIESC (sexual orientation, gender identity, expression, and sex characteristics) are rallying for inclusivity and justice in the Pacific, saying that their struggles intersect with broader issues such as
The Shepards: Spreading kindness in Fiji and the world
Twenty-six years ago, Judy and Dennis Shepard’s son, Matthew, was killed in a hate crime. More than two decades later, they continue to share a message of kindness, most recently during a visit to Fiji. They are
Human rights vetting urged for Fiji defence treaty
A defence treaty between Australia and Fiji should include vetting processes for human rights violations, a parliamentary committee has been told. The agreement on Cooperation in the Field of Defence and the Status of
Third boat arrival detected in a week, but no one taken to Nauru
Two boatloads of asylum seekers intercepted off the Australian coast are being kept at sea rather than being sent immediately for offshore processing in Nauru, prompting questions about whether the government is trying
Proposed law on tainted cryptocurrency ‘terrible’ for human rights, says Cook Islands expert
A Cook Islands cryptocurrency expert is critical of a proposed law targeting tainted cryptocurrency, arguing it undermines human rights and doesn’t address the real channels of money laundering. In the rapidly
Human Rights Defenders build regional protection strategy
Pacific human rights defenders are building a regional protection strategy in the face of challenges ranging from inadequate judicial systems to colonial-era laws and heavy-handed law enforcement. Office of the United
Fijian feminists launch new booklet in a call to action against poverty
Many tears and heartfelt stories were shared in Suva this week at the launch of a new booklet that highlights the socio-economic challenges that Fijian women, girls, and gender-diverse people face on a daily basis.
“We are facing Goliath” – West Papuan church leaders call for solidarity
“We are facing Goliath, or even the Pharaoh,” says West Papua church leader Rode Wanimbo, “but we still have to speak out strong.” Wanimbo is coordinator of the Women’s Department of the Evangelical Christian
Aboard the Run Da vessels
A warning for Pacific crew Sometime in 2018, a Fiji policewoman told us an incredible story about a young Fijian fellow who had been a deckhand crew member on the Run Da 5, a Chinese longline vessel licensed to fish in
Apia hosts signing of new EU-ACP Samoa Agreement
More than two decades ago, the European Union and a group of African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) states were due to meet in Suva, to sign a new partnership agreement. But the ceremony, scheduled for June 2000, never
Labor accused of ‘outrageous secrecy’ as border force confirms 11 asylum seekers sent to Nauru
The Australian Border Force has confirmed it sent 11 asylum seekers to Nauru in September, the first transfer to immigration detention on the Pacific nation in nine years. The evidence to Senate estimates on Monday from
Pacific women face most discrimination in legal profession, survey finds
The Pacific Lawyers Association is concerned Pacific women are the most discriminated against group within the legal profession in New Zealand. The NZ Law Society has just released a new legal workplace survey which
Resolution filed to express Guam’s solidarity with Israel
Senator Jesse Lujan has introduced a resolution expressing solidarity with Jewish communities around the world and showing support for Israel, following an unprecedented airstrike by Hamas, a Palestinian militant group
