Suva, Fiji – The Government Fiji, in partnership with the United Nations represented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), and UN Women, successfully conducted a validation workshop on 6 November. The workshop participants discussed and endorsed the report of 7 initial dialogues held between April and September 2024 and the proposed methodology for the conduct of provincial and community dialogues to be rollout under the project.

This workshop is a crucial step in the implementation of the UN Peacebuilding Fund (PBF) Strengthening Social Cohesion Pathways, Human Rights and Women’s Civic Participation Project.

The workshop brought together the members of the advisory group to the project and other partners - over 50 participants from diverse stakeholder groups, including government representatives, civil society organisations, faith-based institutions, women and youth groups, academia, persons with disability organisations, LGBTQI+ and other groups. It provided the opportunity to share and validate findings from the seven preliminary dialogue and methodology design sessions with stakeholders, and in addition gathered feedback on the proposed methods and tools that will be used for upcoming dialogues at the provincial and community levels. 

This validation process is crucial to ensure the project’s approach is culturally appropriate and effectively addresses the diverse social contexts of different communities across Fiji.

These dialogues aim to assist communities peacefully address grievances, increase civic participation, and foster social cohesion. The dialogues will also help to ensure that national policy discussions adequately reflect the concerns of communities by integrating the concerns and suggestions of various social groups into national dialogue and reconciliation efforts. 

Through these dialogues, communities, civil society, academia, religious, and traditional leaders will have the opportunity to engage in a constructive dialogue with government officials on the issues that affect social cohesion socio-economic development in their communities.

During the workshop, participants engaged in meaningful discussions about the initial dialogue report, which highlighted key issues affecting social cohesion in Fiji. The feedback received was instrumental in refining the methodologies and tools that will be used in the main dialogue sessions, ensuring they are culturally relevant and inclusive.

The Chief Guest, the Minister for Home Affairs and Immigration, Hon. Pio Tikoduadua, said:

“Our diversity enriches us; it is what makes our nation strong, vibrant and resilient. This is our shared identity, and this commitment to unity is at the very heart of what I stand for as a leader in this nation. I believe that when we embrace each other as equals, respecting each other’s unique perspectives and experiences, we lay the foundation for a future where every Fijian has the opportunity to thrive and contribute fully to our society.”