Government has ordered a comprehensive review of Fiji’s human trafficking laws, tasking the Fiji Law Reform Commission with developing a modern, future-focused legal framework to address all forms of human trafficking.
The review was formally referred by Acting Attorney-General Siromi Turaga under the Fiji Law Reform Commission Act 1979.
The move follows Fiji’s continued placement on the Tier 2 Watch List in the United States State Department’s annual Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report, which highlights gaps in prevention, protection and prosecution responses.
Under the terms of reference, the Commission will conduct a gap analysis of existing legislation, including the Crimes Act 2009, Immigration Act 2003 and Cybercrime Act 2021, and assess whether current definitions, penalties and safeguards meet international standards.
The review will also consider key international conventions and examine how factors such as poverty, migration, gender inequality and lack of awareness increase vulnerability to trafficking.
Public consultations will be held with government agencies, civil society, legal professionals, academia and international partners, alongside analysis of available local data and inter-agency coordination mechanisms.
A final report, including recommendations and possible draft legislative amendments or a draft Bill with a Cabinet Paper, is to be submitted to the Acting Attorney-General by September 30, 2026.
