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Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and Fiji stakeholders convene to advance implementation of the Child Justice Act 2024
In a concerted effort to raise awareness and deepen understanding of the new Child Justice Act 2024, several government agencies led by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), gathered for a two-day workshop training dialogue session on 21-22 August, to analyse the provisions of the Act and explore how they would work together to ensure the successful implementation of the Act.
The workshop also provided a platform to address existing gaps and challenges, ensuring that children who come into contact with the justice system, whether as victims or offenders, are effectively supported while upholding the principles of justice.
In addition to the ODPP, the participating government agencies were the Attorney General's Office, the Fiji Police Force, the Department of Social Welfare within the Ministry of Women, Children & Social Protection, and the Ministry of I-Taukei Affairs.
The workshop was organised by the Pacific Community (SPC) in partnership with UNICEF and the Australian Government-funded Fiji Programme Support Platform.
Nancy Tikoisuva, Acting Director of Public Prosecutions, reaffirmed that Fiji’s 2013 Constitution upholds the rights of children and prioritises their best interests.
“This means our work, decisions, and considerations must always be shaped around the best interests of children, whether they are in conflict with the law or are victims of crime,” she said.
Ms Tikoisuva added that the training was a perfect opportunity for partners to discuss, debate, ask questions and most importantly, use this time to understand and dissect the Child Justice Act.
Miles Young, Director of the Human Rights and Social Development Division at SPC said the Act applies “a new approach to how Fiji engages with children in conflict with the law, one that moves away from a focus on criminalisation to intervention and rehabilitation, from punishment to restoration, from stigma to support, from exclusion to reintegration, and to highlighting care over incarceration.”
He reiterated the need to address the complex root causes of criminal behaviour and ensure justice for victims and survivors of crime. “Accountability is therefore critically important, but accountability measures must be age-appropriate, rehabilitative, and grounded in fairness and human dignity,” he said.
This training marks the first in a series of awareness and collaborative implementation sessions, following the recommendations of implementing partners, to ensure the effective rollout of the Child Justice Act.
