Fiji's Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Nazhat Shameem Khan speaking on FBC TV's current affairs program

The implementation of human rights is a journey and no country is perfect says Fiji’s Permanent Representative to the UN.

Speaking on FBC TV‘s current affairs program last night, Ambassador Nazhat Shameem Khan said the Fijian Constitution plays a vital role when it comes to human rights issues.

She says it is important to understand that the promotion and the implementation of Human Rights is always a work in progress.

“We are lucky because we have a progressive Constitution with a strong Bill of Rights which is based on ICCPR and ICESCR. So it is a really good measure of both civil and political rights such as freedom of thought, freedom of religion, the right to a fair trial and economic, social and cultural rights which is the right to education, the right of persons with disabilities. So this merger in our Constitution really gives us a head start for implementation but of course it is not as easy as that.”

Fiji is the first-ever Pacific Island Nation to become a member of the United Nations Human Rights Council.

The membership is for three years.