15 Jun 2005

Fiji Women's Rights Movement wants UN and EU action over Reconciliation Bill

6:44 am on 15 June 2005

The Fiji Women's Rights Movement wants United Nations agencies and the European Union to take action against the Qarase government over its controversial Reconciliation and Unity Bill.

The Movement's executive director, Virisila Buadromo, has told Radio Legend that they are writing to all UN agencies in Suva and the European Union's Suva-based Pacific Office telling them how the Bill breaches UN conventions and international agreements.

Ms Buadromo says Fiji's major donor agencies must be informed of the consequences of the Bill to stop the legislation from being enacted.

She says the UN and the EU need to be told how the Bill is in gross violation of the UN Millenium Declaration, and the essential and fundamental elements of the Cotonou Agreement under which Fiji receives European Union aid.

Ms Buadromo says if the good governance and democracy provisions of these agreements are breached, EU aid provided to Fiji could be put on hold.

But the acting foreign affairs minister, Pita Nacuva, says the Movement should not be making public statements and should raise its concerns with parliament's Justice, Law and Order Committee.