Making integrity a priority for youth engaging in sport in Fiji, was the focus of a workshop hosted by the UN Pacific Regional Anti-Corruption (UN-PRAC) Project and Fiji’s Ministry of Youth and Sport yesterday.

Over 40 participants joined the online webinar to look at international and regional good practices of youth engagement in integrity, along with Fiji’s current engagement in major sport integrity development.

“There is a tremendous opportunity to empower youth in the Pacific in integrity through sport. While all 14 Pacific Island Countries, including Fiji, are States parties to the UN Convention against Corruption (UNCAC), there is a need to make sure that integrity awareness is being implemented at all levels of society, especially youth,” said Ms. Annika Wythes, the Regional Anti-Corruption Adviser for the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

“Integrity, participation, inclusion, equality and fairness, some of the core values in sport, are also among the fundamental principles of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16 on peaceful and inclusive societies. Involvement of youth in exercising and promoting these values through sport contribute to societies coming closer not only to achieving SDG 16, but all SDGs, said UN Development Programme (UNDP) Pacific Office in Fiji, Anti-Corruption Adviser, Sonja Stefanovska-Trajanoska. 

While a number of Assistant Youth Officers have been assisting in COVID-19 intervention programmes, a follow-up training is being planned for Fiji’s youth and sports officers to progress integrity engagement in activities going forward.

“The Ministry of Youth and Sports is working with a number of partners to progress integrity issues at all levels of sport and we aim by 2022-2023 to have the Fiji Sports Integrity Commission established,” said Mr. Aseri Tabuawaiwai, Senior Sports Officer and Head of the Sports Unit for the Fiji Ministry of Youth and Sports.

Participants included the Ministry Assistant Youth Officer, Sports Development Officers from the Fiji National Sports Commission (FNSC), Voices of the Athletes Champions from FASANOC and administrators. Participants also came from the Fiji National Sports Commission (FNSC), the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) and Ms Makelesi Bulikiobo (two-time Olympian - 2004 and 2008 – and former Sprint Queen of Fiji and the Pacific) who is the Sports Development Officer at the Fiji Association of Sports and National Olympic Committee (FASANOC).

The UN-PRAC Project is a joint initiative by the UN Office of Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the UN Development Programme (UNDP) supported by the Australian Government and the New Zealand Aid Programme.

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About UNODC

UNODC works to counter drugs, crime, terrorism and corruption. It mobilizes and promotes regional and transnational cooperation to confront these threats. Specific efforts are made to target the world’s most vulnerable regions, where the convergence of these issues threatens regional and global security. UNODC works directly with Governments, international organizations, and civil society in undertaking three key actions: field-based technical cooperation projects to enhance the capacity of its Member States; research and analytical work to increase knowledge and understanding of drugs and crime issues; and normative work to assist Member States in the ratification and implementation of the relevant international treaties and the development of domestic legislation on drugs, crime, terrorism and corruption. More at www.unodc.org or follow at @UNODC.

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For more information, or media interviews please contact:

Emily Moli, Knowledge Communications Analyst - UNDP Pacific Office in Fiji. emily.moli@undp.org P: (679) 3227 504

Akara Umapornsakula, Communications Assistant - United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime Regional Office for Southeast Asia and the Pacific, E: akara.umapornsakula@un.org  P: (66) 22 88 1906