FIJI is preparing its first National Peace Operations Strategy to strengthen and guide the country’s future involvement in international peacekeeping missions.
Acting Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Siromi Turaga said the strategy recognised the changing nature of global security challenges, where the boundaries between traditional and non-traditional threats were becoming increasingly unclear.
He said the national security strategy had highlighted these emerging challenges, with the new peace operations framework expected to shape the country’s future contributions to global peace efforts.
“Since the first deployment to Lebanon in 1978, more than 15,000 Fijians have served in peacekeeping missions across the world, often in some of the world’s most difficult and dangerous environments,” he said.
He said more than 65 Fijians had lost their lives while serving overseas, reflecting the sacrifices made by those involved in peace operations.
Fiji’s peacekeeping role has also expanded beyond the military, with police officers and corrections personnel contributing to international missions.
Mr Turaga said protecting civilians, especially women and children, remained a key priority for peacekeepers, guided by the principle of human dignity.
While acknowledging pressures on global peacekeeping budgets, he said Fiji would continue deploying personnel when needed.
“Our goal is not simply the absence of conflict, but the creation of conditions where peace can thrive, institutions can endure and future generations can prosper.”
