Original Language
English
ISBN
978-92-9268-416-7
ISBN (PDF)
978-92-9268-415-0
Number of Pages
64
Reference Number
PUB2022/007/E
Date of upload

10 Mar 2023

Trafficking in Persons in Fiji: A Study of the Volume and Characteristics of Trafficking in Persons in Fiji and the Challenges in the Response

Fiji has made significant progress towards combating trafficking in persons by adopting a national strategy and a national plan of action, strengthening prevention activities and victim protection efforts, and pursuing investigations and prosecutions. This study focuses on the volume, characteristics and risk factors for adults and children. It aims to identify gaps and challenges in Fijiʼs response to trafficking in persons. The report also gives an overview of Fijiʼs legal and policy framework on anti-human trafficking, examines domestic and cross-border trafficking trends, and provides a set of recommendations for policymakers and non-governmental organizations on strengthening Fijiʼs response to trafficking in persons.

  • ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
  • LIST OF ACRONYMS
  • EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
  • Fiji’s legal and policy framework on trafficking in persons
  • Volume, characteristics, and risk factors of domestic and cross-border trafficking in persons
  • Challenges in Fiji’s response to trafficking in persons
  • Recommendations
    • Legislation
    • Prevention
    • Victim identification, investigation and prosecution
    • Data and information collection, reporting and sharing
    • Protection and reintegration of victims
    • Coordination
    • Policy implementation
  • SECTION 1: INTRODUCTION
  • Geographic and demographic overview of Fiji
  • Overview of trafficking in persons in Fiji  
  • Aim and objectives of the study
  • Research questions
  • How this study contributes to IOM Fiji’s project
  • Methodology  
  • Ethics  
  • Data analysis  
  • Limitations  
    • Lack of knowledge of some key informants on trafficking in persons in Fiji  
    • Lack of data on the volume of trafficking in persons  
    • COVID-19 pandemic
    • Structure of the report
  • SECTION 2: FIJI’S LEGAL FRAMEWORK ON TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS  
  • International obligations
  • National legislation on trafficking in persons
  • Fiji’s policy framework on trafficking in persons
    • Overview of key anti-trafficking policies
    • Key government agencies involved in anti-trafficking efforts in Fiji  
    • Policy and activities: Prevention of trafficking in persons
    • Policy and activities: Identification of victims
    • Policy and activities: Investigation and prosecution  
    • Policy and activities: Protection and reintegration of trafficking victims
    • Policy and activities: Data collection and management
  • SECTION 3: VOLUME, CHARACTERISTICS AND RISK FACTORS OF DOMESTIC AND CROSS-BORDER TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS
  • Vulnerability factors of Fijians
    • Poverty, lack of employment and homelessness
    • Lack of education
    • Family breakdown and separation
    • Child neglect  
    • Migration to urban areas  
    • Gender discrimination  
    • Child sexual abuse  
    • Teenage pregnancy  
    • Disability
  • Vulnerability factors of international migrants
  • Volume of trafficking in persons in Fiji
  • Characteristics of domestic trafficking
    • Domestic trafficking of Fijian adults
    • Domestic trafficking of Fijian children
  • Characteristics of trafficking of Fijians abroad
  • Characteristics of trafficking of migrants into Fiji
  • Protection issues for trafficking victims
  • Profiles and activities of human traffickers
  • SECTION 4: CHALLENGES IN FIJI’S RESPONSE TO TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS
  • Negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on Fiji’s response to trafficking in persons
  • Legislation gaps and challenges
  • Data challenges
  • Prevention and reporting challenges
  • Investigation and prosecution challenges
  • Victim protection and reintegration challenges
    • Lack of comprehensive support  
    • Case management
    • Shelter
    • Counselling
    • Interpretation  
    • Stigma
  • Collaboration and information-sharing challenges
  • SECTION 5: CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
  • Conclusion
  • Recommendations
    • Legislation
    • Prevention  
    • Victim identification, investigation and prosecution
    • Data and information collection, reporting and sharing
    • Protection and reintegration of victims
    • Coordination
    • Policy implementation
  • Annex: Anonymized list of interview participants and other sources of information and data