FIJI has failed to secure a single human trafficking conviction for the third consecutive year, despite identifying 50 victims and launching new investigations, according to the United States Department of State.
The findings are contained in the 2026 Trafficking in Persons Report, which has retained Fiji on the Tier 2 watch list for the third consecutive year.
The report states that Fiji has not demonstrated an overall increase in efforts to combat human trafficking compared with the previous reporting period.
“The Government of Fiji does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking,” the report states.
It acknowledges that authorities initiated six trafficking investigations and two prosecutions, the first since 2023.
However, the absence of convictions remains a major concern.
“The government did not convict any traffickers for the third consecutive year.”
The report also raises serious concerns about alleged corruption and official involvement in trafficking activities.
“Official complicity and corruption undermined anti-trafficking efforts and allowed traffickers to operate with impunity.”
It further criticises the Government’s response to longstanding allegations involving a religious organisation and its business operations.
“The government did not take sufficient law enforcement or victim protection actions regarding a religious organization facing many years of significant trafficking allegations against its businesses across key sectors.”
Despite these concerns, Fiji avoided being downgraded to Tier 3.
The report states that Fiji received a waiver under the Trafficking Victims Protection Act because sufficient resources had been committed to a written plan that could improve compliance if implemented.
Positive developments included funding for anti-trafficking activities and the introduction of an online reporting tool for law enforcement agencies, developed with international assistance.
However, the report found that victim identification procedures developed during the previous reporting period had not been formally approved or fully implemented.
It also noted that the Government’s interagency working group had failed to meet independently to coordinate anti-trafficking efforts.
The Tier 2 Watch List applies to countries making significant efforts to meet minimum anti-trafficking standards but facing concerns over the scale of trafficking or insufficient progress in addressing it.
The findings place renewed attention on Fiji’s ability to translate investigations and policy commitments into successful prosecutions, victim protection and accountability for those involved in trafficking.
