Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2008, published 98th ILC session (2009)

Indigenous and Tribal Peoples Convention, 1989 (No. 169) - Fiji (Ratification: 1998)

The Committee notes the Government’s report which indicates that, according to the 2007 census, the total population of Fiji is 827,900, out of which 473,983 are indigenous peoples. The Committee notes that the number of indigenous peoples has grown both in the rural and urban areas, although increase of this population group was more pronounced in the urban areas. The Committee also notes that the Fiji Island Bureau of Statistics projects that the proportion of indigenous Fijians of the population will continue to increase.

The Committee is aware that a process has been launched for the adoption of a Peoples’ Charter for Change, Peace and Progress, which aims at reforms in a broad range of areas, including the issue of making more land available for productive and social purposes and the reform of the local and provincial structure, as well as reviews of the government structures, including the Ministry of Indigenous Affairs. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on this process, including information on the consultation and participation of indigenous peoples, and its outcome and effects for the application of the various Articles of the Convention in Fiji (particularly those contained in Part II (lands).

The Committee notes that the information provided in the Government’s report in reply to the Committee’s previous comments is very general in nature. It therefore requests the Government to provide detailed information on the application of various Articles of the Convention, in law and in practice.

[The Government is asked to report in detail in 2010.]