Fiji Police Validate Key Reforms in the Review of the Police Act 1965

November 5, 2025

Suva, Fiji – 30 senior police officers from across the Central, Western, and Northern Divisions of Fiji recently convened for a validation workshop to review key findings from nationwide consultations on the review of the Fiji Police Act of 1965.

Alongside representatives from the Ministry of Policing, the Office of the Solicitor-General, the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), the UN Development Programme (UNDP) and UN Women, under the joint UN-Fiji Peacebuilding Fund, the workshop served as a platform to present and validate the findings of an extensive national consultation process, which included 42 in-person sessions across all 13 provinces of Fiji, reaching both urban centres and rural communities.

The review of the Police Act 1965 – a law that has guided policing in Fiji for six decades – is a crucial step toward ensuring that policing in Fiji aligns with the Constitution and international human rights standards. The review is being led by the Ministry of Policing, the Office of the Solicitor-General, and the Fiji Police Force, with technical human rights support from the United Nations. It aims to establish a modern legal framework for policing that promotes accountability, transparency, gender equality, and community trust.

The validation workshop facilitated structured discussions on key reform themes, including governance, accountability, the scope and limitations of police powers, and community policing. It also provided an opportunity for senior police leadership to ensure that the proposed reforms are practical, rights-based, and contextually relevant.

Photograph of a man in a suit speaking at a podium, blue banners behind him. — Minister for Policing, Hon. Ioane Naivalurua.

UNDP

Minister for Policing, Hon. Ioane Naivalurua said:

“The review aims to give police a clear authority to tackle issues such as cybercrime and organised offenses while protecting citizens’ rights ensuring that the new law is people-focused and people-centred. It aligns itself to the international norm and the government’s intent above all."

Photograph of a woman speaking at a podium with a UN Human Rights banner behind. — OHCHR Pacific Regional Representative, Heike Alefsen.

UNDP

OHCHR Pacific Regional Representative, Heike Alefsen, said:

“From a human rights and governance perspective, nationwide consultations are a cornerstone of democratic law reform. They ensure that the new Police Act is not only technically sound but also socially legitimate and owned by the people it serves. True security is built with people, not imposed upon them. When communities have a voice in how they are policed, law enforcement becomes not a force of fear but a service of protection.”

UNDP Pacific Office Effective Governance Team Leader, Raphael Asuliwonnu, said:

“Through this collaborative process, we are supporting the Fiji Police Force in strengthening institutional ownership and fostering a culture of human rights and community engagement. These reforms are vital for a more inclusive and secure Fiji.”

The outcomes of the workshop will inform the final draft of the revised Police Act Bill, which will be submitted to the Office of the Solicitor-General and subsequently to Cabinet for consideration.

This initiative forms part of the broader United Nations Peacebuilding Fund-supported programme, Strengthening Social Cohesion Pathways, Human Rights and Women’s Civic Participation, led by UNDP in collaboration with the Fiji Government and supported by OHCHR and UN Women. The programme aims to enhance national reconciliation, strengthen social cohesion, and reinforce human rights frameworks and institutions in Fiji.

For more information, please contact:

Ashna Kumar, Communications Associate | UNDP Pacific Office | (E) Ashna.kumar@undp.org