The Fiji Human Rights Commission believes that the proposed People's Charter may form the basis of a future development plan, which will assist in promoting a national identity in Fiji.

In its report to the committee dealing with the UN's International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, the Human Rights Commission said it is concerned that meaningful efforts have not been made to develop a national identity for all citizens in Fiji.

The FHRC has told the UN Committee on Elimination of Racial Discrimination that prior to December 2006, a national identity could not be developed due to largely entrenched racial separatism and segregation in Government policy and programs, and racial discrimination in areas of education and public service.

The commission's report to the CERD committee also raises concern that the media, which is mostly privately owned in Fiji, has not developed programs to assist with building a non-racial and secular national identity. It also said that the Media Council Code of Conduct prohibits programs and advertisements that have the effect of promoting racial discrimination and discord but complaints to the commission show that this is ineffectively monitored.

The FHRC said it is closely monitoring the People's Charter process in its role as an independent watchdog of rights in Fiji.

It has also informed the People's Charter Secretariat of the Commission's monitoring role to ensure that the Charter complies with the requirements of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.

Meanwhile the FHRC reveals that a review of various relevant pieces of legislation relating to indigenous rights is currently being undertaken by the Ministry of Indigenous Affairs in Fiji.

It said the 1997 constitution contains specific provisions on the protection and enhancement of indigenous Fijian rights.

The FHRC said these reviews by the ministry should ensure the protection of indigenous rights contained in the law comply with international standards relating to the prohibition of racial discrimination.

The commission also told the committee that racial segregation in Fiji's social, economic and political structures was introduced during the colonial era by Britain which had pursued a development policy of 'Fijian land, Indian labour and European capital'.      

It said that since 1970 unequal representation and discrimination continued and the new constitution attempted to reintroduce the right to equality in Fiji, with limited success.

In its conclusion in the report to Geneva, the FHRC said it fully supports the interim government's proposal to remove all elements of racial segregation and separatism from the 1997 constitution.