The Sub-Regional Pacific Roundtable Discussion on Non-Judicial Accountability Mechanisms, conducted in Fiji by No Peace Without Justice, in partnership with the Fiji Women’s Rights Movement and with the financial support of the European Union, the Governments of Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States, concluded today with the adoption of a final declaration.
The purpose of the meeting, which started on 24 June and which saw the participation of government representatives and civil society actors from Fiji, Tonga, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu, was to discuss the role of non-judicial accountability mechanisms in the promotion and protection of peace, justice, democracy, the rule of law and human rights in the Pacific sub-region.
Statement by Sergio Stanzani and Gianfranco Dell’Alba, President and Secretary General of No Peace Without Justice:
“No Peace Without Justice welcomes the adoption of the Pacific Roundtable on Transitional Justice final declaration which emphasizes the fundamental importance and indivisibility of the principles of parliamentary democracy, the rule of law, human rights and the independence of the judiciary, as well as the critical role that transitional justice can play in ensuring justice according to law, restoring the dignity of all and the preservation of the integrity of truth. The declaration also stresses the importance of pursuing and fostering linkages with international mechanisms, such as the United Nations and the International Criminal Court and others, including institutions in international civil society, in order to address human rights violations.
Strengthening the rule of law, human rights and democracy is a common challenge across these Pacific Island countries, in particular in Fiji where in the wake of the December 2006 military takeover an emergency law was declared.
No Peace Without Justice calls on the European Union to clearly state that military coups are not a legitimate way to seek changes in governance structures and that the international community should be united in its efforts to exert pressure on the Fijian military regime to abide by its commitments to having elections by March 2009 in order to restore democracy and the rule of law, and in the meanwhile cease intimidation and violence against civil society activists”.
For further information, contact Alison Smith on asmith@npwj.org or +32-486-986 235 or Nicola Giovannini on ngiovannini@npwj.org or +32-2-548-3913.
Presentation of the meeting.
