The Fiji Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Commission has begun its first round of community consultations for a Baseline Study on the Rights of Children with Disabilities, aimed at capturing lived experiences and strengthening support systems nationwide.
The initial consultations were held last week in Ra, in collaboration with the Fiji Disabled Peoples Federation (FDPF).
The Commission’s team is continuing consultations this week in Naitasiri.
The consultations are creating space for communities across Fiji to share insights into the realities faced by children with disabilities.
Through separate focus group discussions with men and women, the Commission is hearing directly about everyday challenges, barriers to access, and practical ways community and institutional support can be strengthened to improve outcomes for children.
In parallel with community sessions, the Baseline Study Research Team has begun family and child interviews.
The Commission said these interviews are being conducted in line with strict ethical research standards to ensure children’s voices are heard in a safe, respectful and meaningful manner.
The study is expected to inform evidence-based policy and programming, helping to identify gaps in services and protections while guiding targeted interventions at community and national levels.
The Commission said preliminary findings from the Baseline Study will be released by June 2026.
