The Human Rights Adviser at the Pacific Regional Rights Resource said the rights of citizens must be protected by Pacific Island Constitution if the region is to prosper.

Speaking at a Regional Consultation for Pacific Island members of Parliament on integrating human right standards into national policy and law, Imrana Jalal said that there were various reasons to insert a comprehensive bill of rights into national constitutions.

Jalal said it defines who you are and what you want to be as a nation and it also helps guarantees the most basic needs of Pacific Islanders such as access to things like clean water, nutritious food and a home.

She also said that this would also ensure the basic necessities for citizens of the developing island states of the region adding that most of the Pacific Island countries those rights vital for economic and social stability and development.

The consultation was organized by Regional Rights Resource Team and Secretariat of South Pacific along with Commonwealth Secretariat and UNDP pacific centre.