The Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum says Fiji is committed to ratifying several international human rights treaties.

Speaking at the UN review of Fiji’s human rights record in Geneva last night, Sayed-Khaiyum said Fiji has accepted 97 of the 103 recommendations that were made in the first universal periodic review.

‘’The current report articulates the progress made towards the implementation of these recommendations. The Constitution of the Republic of Fiji which came into force on the seventh of September this year is an expression of the will of the Fijian people. It enshrines fundamental principles and values such as a common and equal citizenry, secular state, the removal of systemic corruption, and independent judiciary, the elimination of discrimination, good governance, one person one value and the elimination of the legal enforcement of ethnic voting, values that should be aspired to universally’’.

Many of the countries speaking at a UN review of Fiji’s human rights record in Geneva said Fiji should make it a priority to finally approve remaining treaties like the Convention Against Torture.

Several also called on Fiji to allow into the country independent experts like the Special Rapporteur on Torture.

Sayed-Khaiyum told the Human Rights Council gathering approval for ratifying the treaties is up to Fiji’s new parliament.