With financial and technical support from New Zealand, the project supports the Fiji Police Force to strengthen early access to justice in criminal proceedings and strengthen a victim-centered approach to investigations. This engagement will prioritise gender responsive and human rights-based approach to access to justice for vulnerable groups and promote gender equality and empowerment of all women and girls.

The project also supports urgent initiatives required by the Fiji Police Force to implement the Government’s COVID-19 response and recovery plan in a coherent manner and strengthen effective engagement with the public.

The project has been guided by the strategic vision and mission of the Fiji Police Force and the Fiji Five-Year & Twenty-Year National Development Plan: Transforming Fiji, and supports the wider Police Strengthening Programme being undertaken by New Zealand to strengthen the performance of the Fiji Police Force.  

The cooperation with the Legal Aid Commission, which provides contact with lawyers in the first-hour, and coordination with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution and the Courts, has been and will continue to be of crucial importance to the success of this initiative.

Sustainable Development Goals

The initiative aims to contribute to Fiji’s sustainable development with focus on Sustainable Development Goal 16 which promotes just, peaceful and inclusive societies and Goal 5 which is to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.