THE United Nations has come on board to support Fiji’s truth and reconciliation journey through the UN Peacebuilding Fund Joint Program Initiative in Fiji.
As Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka launched the program at Grand Pacific Hotel in Suva yesterday, UN resident co-ordinator Dirk Wagener said this was the first time the UN Secretary-General’s peacebuilding fund had extended such support to Fiji.
“It acknowledges the resolute commitment of the Government, national leaders, and stakeholders to advance this journey,” he said.
“Three UN agencies will lead the implementation from the UN family – UNDP as the lead agency, UNOCHCR, and UN Women. We thank these agencies for their leadership and support as they bring together the expertise, knowledge and commitment for this initiative.”
He said the UN was also extending support to Fiji’s peacebuilding agenda under the leadership of his office to engage an international expert to collaborate with the truth and reconciliation commission.
Meanwhile, Mr Rabuka also expressed disappointment at the lack of Government presence at the launch.
“For programs such as this, we must be showing government support. If we expect the people to go along with us, we must show that we are supporting it,” he said.
He said it was “time to make peace at home” as the Pacific was a region which had also witnessed various political crises that usually went unnoticed on the global stage.
“We need to continue in our own little circles at home, in our political parties, and Cabinet, in Government, in our own workforces in the ministries, in our villages, churches, whatever community we can use, to build up peace. Let’s capitalise on those.”
