Strengthening Police–Community Relations: Officers In Lautoka Undergo Human Rights And Law Enforcement Training

Lautoka, Fiji – 30 officers from the Fiji Police Force Western Division have successfully completed a three-day training workshop held from 19–21 August 2025 at the Lautoka Police Station, focused on human rights, conflict resolution, and community-based policing, and included sessions on the rights of women, children, and marginalised groups, as well as online abuse and freedom of expression.

The 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, is part of a broader national reconciliation and social cohesion effort led by the Fiji Government.

The workshop aimed to equip officers with practical skills in conflict de-escalation, identification of hate speech and racist rhetoric, and communication strategies to foster public trust. 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. A win for policing is a win for community partnership, leading to enhanced crime prevention efforts.”

Speaking on behalf of the joint UN programme, UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) Regional Representative for the Pacific, Heike Alefsen said:

“Human Rights is about strengthening policing. Respect for human rights builds public trust, reduces conflict, and ultimately makes your job safer and more effective. Every time an officer upholds human rights, they strengthen the legitimacy of the police service in the eyes of the community. The Police Act is more than words on paper — it is a living document that sets out your powers, duties, and responsibilities, and it reflects the values we want Fiji’s policing service to uphold.”

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.”

This workshop built on previous human rights training provided to the Fiji Police Force and aligns with the government’s Restore Blue initiative, which advocates for an independent and impartial police force, free from political influence.

Since the launch of the project in April 2024, over 200 police officers in Fiji have received training.

This work is a partnership between UNDP, UN Women, UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, and key national institutions including the Prime Minister’s Office, Fiji Human Rights and Anti Discrimination Commission, Online Safety Commission and the Fiji Police Force.

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