Government is seeking guidance from development partners in its efforts to establish a Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
Heading the discussions, Assistant Minister for Women, Children and Social Protection Sashi Kiran said their feedback would assist the Government in setting up the commission.
“I am seeking guidance on lessons learned from various Truth and Reconciliation Commissions set up in more than 50 countries around the world to help develop one for our context, but lessons learned will help guide us to minimise challenges,” said Ms Kiran.
“Any Truth and Reconciliation Commission will bring out a lot of emotions with so many unresolved issues over generations, so a lot of thought has to be put into its design and processes.”
Last week, Ms Kiran and Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister’s Office Sakiusa Tubuna met with a team from the United Nations to discuss the workings of the commission.
Ms Kiran said discussions were held with UN resident co-ordinator Dirk Wegener, UN Human Rights Office regional representative Heike Alefsen, UNHR’s Yemesrach Workie, UNDP deputy regional representative Anne Rehagen and senior peace and development adviser Agus Wandi. The establishment of the commission was passed by Parliament in September, last year.
Ms Kiran said the purpose of the commission was to facilitate open and free engagement in truth-telling and confront fears given conflicting statements and utterances regarding motives behind political upheavals so that closure and healing for Fiji are achieved and permanently put to rest the unfortunate and turbulent chapter of Fiji’s history.
