Human rights are inherently Pacific, not a foreign concept imposed from outside.
Rejecting the view that human rights are Western in origin, Pacific legal expert Romulo Nayacalevu told participants at the Pacific Regional and National Security Conference, that the principles of dignity, fairness, and respect are deeply embedded in Pacific traditions and customs.
“Human rights are not just a Western issue,” he said.
“The Tongan 1875 Constitution enshrined a bill of rights even before the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948.
“When we respect our elders, women, and children, we are already practising these principles.
“We just never called it ‘human rights’.”
Mr Nayacalevu called for the development of a regional human rights framework, saying it should be grounded in regional values but aligned with international frameworks.
Adding to the conversation, Dr Fiona Hukula of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS) stressed the need to go beyond symbolic gestures when it comes to gender and inclusion in regional security strategies.
“There’s opportunity now with the new action plan to ensure that there’s a wider range of consultation around the role of women, not just in the security forces, but also as analysts, peacemakers, and community leaders,” she said.
Dr Hukula said inclusive security must address not only gender but also the rights and voices of vulnerable groups.
“When we talk about the Boe Declaration and the Secretariat’s work on gender and social inclusion.
“We must ensure that women, children, persons with disabilities, and other marginalised groups are not an afterthought.”
She called for stronger collaboration across the region to reflect the real priorities of Pacific peoples at both national and regional levels.
