FIJI identified 50 human trafficking victims during the latest reporting period, but its overall victim protection efforts declined, according to the US State Department’s 2026 Trafficking in Persons Report.
The figure comprised 47 labour trafficking victims, two sex trafficking victims and one victim of an unspecified form of trafficking, down from 61 victims identified and referred for services in the previous reporting period.
“The Government decreased victim protection efforts,” the report states.
It found Fiji had developed draft standard operating procedures for victim identification but had not formally approved or consistently implemented them, while officials did not proactively screen vulnerable groups, including migrants and people involved in commercial sex.
The report also highlighted a significant reduction in financial support.
Fiji allocated no funding for victim care services during the reporting period, compared with $294,000 allocated previously.
As a result, victims often depended on non-government organisations for most services and support.
Government assistance included shelter, legal and repatriation assistance, medical care and counselling. However, only four victims received shelter, welfare and food assistance, while two received counselling services during the reporting period.
The report said authorities were also unable to provide adequate housing for adult male victims and victims with disabilities, while insufficient interpretation services created difficulties for foreign victims seeking psychosocial support.
“Relevant agencies did not consistently engage” with the Case Management Coordinator’s office responsible for coordinating victim support and monitoring investigations and prosecutions, the report states.
The Government also had not finalised a National Referral Mechanism it began developing in 2022.
While victims could access protection services regardless of whether they participated in investigations, the report found victim-witness assistance remained limited.
It also noted that trafficking victims could pursue civil action against traffickers, but no civil suits were filed in 2025.
