Human rights must not be the intellectual chattering of a privileged few says Fiji' Ambassador to the United Nations Nazhat Shameem Khan.

Human rights must not be the intellectual chattering of a privileged few says Fiji’ Ambassador to the United Nations Nazhat Shameem Khan.

Speaking at the UN Human Rights Council workshop in Nadi today, Ambassador Shameem says human rights must have relevance to the lives of people in the rural and urban areas of the country.

She also says that over the years as Fiji’s Ambassador in Geneva, she has seen more Pacific Permanent Missions established and more representatives of Pacific Small Island States engaging in the Human Rights Council.

According to Ambassador Shameem, these developments indicate not only the willingness of Pacific Island countries to engage in human rights discussions in Geneva, but they show the global community what they want to hear from them.

She adds they hope more Pacific Island States will reach out and access the trust fund to facilitate effective engagement with the Human Rights Council.