The Meaning of Human Rights

The idea of the protection and promotion of human rights in international law was born after the Second World War and was therefore enshrined in the most important international human rights document- the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

In Fiji documents protecting the human rights and unfair discrimination issues of all citizens are the Decree No. 11 of 2009 and the United Nations Covenants and Conventions on Human Rights which are ratified by the State of Fiji and further decrees as may be prescribed by the President.

The law recognises group rights as well as the duty of the individual to the society in which she or he lives. Rights and responsibilities go together. This means that you cannot enforce or manifest your own rights over the rights of someone else.

The Human Rights Commission Decree No. 11 of 2009 contains information about Fiji's human rights law. The Decree gives certain powers and duties to the Fiji Human Rights Commission. It also describes the methods by which individuals and groups can lodge complaints to the Commission and prescribes how the Commission can deal with the complaints.