Fiji downgraded to Tier 2 Watch List by US State Department

The US State Department’s 2024 Trafficking in Persons Report for Fiji has stated that Fiji has been downgraded to Tier 2 Watch List as the Government of Fiji does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking but is making significant efforts to do so.

It says these efforts included initiating development of victim identification Standard Operating Procedures, convicting two child sex traffickers in one case, conducting research to assess the scope of the country’s trafficking problem, conducting awareness raising activities, and providing training to labour inspectors.

However, the US State Department states the Fiji government did not demonstrate overall increasing efforts compared with the previous reporting period.

It has highlighted that the government identified and assisted fewer trafficking victims.

The report says for the second consecutive year, the government did not identify any sex trafficking victims or initiate any sex trafficking investigations.

The government also did not implement or allocate resources towards its National Action Plan.

We have sent questions to Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Professor Biman Prasad, Home Affairs Minister Pio Tikoduadua and Acting Commissioner of Police Juki Fong Chew.