THE 2016 ratification of the UN Convention against torture places an obligation on Fiji to take preventative measures, whether legislative, administrative, judicial or otherwise, to prevent acts of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.
These were the comments by United Nations Development Programme Pacific Office in Fiji Officer-in-Charge Salma Elhagyousif at the launch of the Fiji Police Force’s Regional Training of Trainers in the first hour procedure, video recorded interviews and investigating interviewing.
She said recognising that, a multi-stakeholder approach was required, adding the unity of Fiji stakeholders in their efforts to comply with Fiji’s obligation under the Covention was testament of the country’s efforts.
“All of these participants combined assist in serving the mandate of Sustainable Development Goal 16, which is to improve access to justice for all, and build effective accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels,” said Ms Elhagyousif.
“I would like to congratulate the Fiji Police Force for undertaking this initiative following the commencement of pilot works on the ‘first hour procedur and video recorded interviews’, and for their continous efforst to implement the UN Convention against Torture.”
Meanwhile, the opening of the training also served as a launch for two police posters together with a training tool on investigative interviewing.
In keeping with Sustainable Development Goal 16, promoting inclusive societies, the Fiji Police Force have undertaken to print the posters in English, Hindi, I-taukei, braille and sign language.
The one-week training is attended by representatives from Tonga, Samoa, Vanuatu, Nauru and Fiji.
