Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat

The Pacific Islands Forum comprises 16 independent and self-governing states in the Pacific.

In recent years, there has been increasing dialogue about human rights mechanisms for the Pacific.

The Pacific Plan of Action for Strengthening Regional Cooperation and Integration, endorsed by Pacific leaders in 2005, supports the “appropriate ratification and implementation of international and regional human rights conventions, covenants and agreements, and support for reporting and other requirements”.

The Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS) is mandated to coordinate the implementation of the Pacific Plan.

In 2010, PIFS appointed a Human Rights Advisor to support Pacific Island Forum Member States to strengthen their human rights policies and practices.

This position was established with support from the APF and the New Zealand Human Rights Commission.

To advance human rights in the Pacific, PIFS works closely with a number of key partners, including the APF, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and the Regional Rights Resource Team.

In 2009, representatives from 13 Pacific countries took part in a major regional workshop to discuss issues around the establishment of national human rights institutions in their island states.

The workshop – co-organised by the APF, OHCHR and PIFS – engaged government representatives, parliamentarians, public officials and members of civil society on human rights protection systems in the Pacific.

A number of Pacific Island countries, including Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea and Samoa, have taken preliminary steps towards establishing national human rights institutions.

PIFS website is: http://www.forumsec.org.fj/