Fiji's Human Rights commissioner insists his organisation is independent, after it came under criticism from the United Nations' top human rights official.
Fiji Human Rights and Anti Discrimation Commission Director Ashwin Raj. Photo: RNZI
Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein visited Fiji last week, and said he was concerned about the true independence of institutions including the Constitutional Offices Commission, the Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Commission and the Fiji elections office.
Mr Al Hussein, who has made a name for openly criticising governments, said he was concerned about a basic structural flaw that brings into question whether the bodies are autonomous.
But the commissioner of the Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Commission, Ashwin Raj, has told the FBC that his body is independent, and its caseload will testify to that.