The Fiji government has urged its people to report any human rights violations to the relevant authorities.
Frank Bainimarama, the prime minister of Fiji during the opening ceremony of COP 24, the 24th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Photo: AFP/Beata Zawrzel/NurPhoto
Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama said Fijians needed to commit themselves and protect the basic rights and dignity of everyone.
These rights are enshrined in the 2013 Constitution, He said.
With abuses in the country being highlighted by human rights groups, Mr Bainimarama called on Fijians to build a more caring country.
"We all need to go beyond and above the call of duty to afford a level of care and concern for all members of our society especially those who are most vulnerable - including women and children and the elderly - and those Fijians living with disabilities."
Mr Bainimarama told the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva last week that Fiji would use its membership of the body to champion global recognition of the universal right to a safe and healthy environment.
Fiji's record was questioned by human rights groups prior to its election to the UN council last October.
A week out from Fiji's general election last year, Amnesty International called on the government to tackle the country's failing human rights protections.
Amnesty spokeswoman Roshika Deo said security forces continued to torture people, media workers were harassed for doing their job and women were shamed and harassed for calling out violence and discrimination against them.
"We had reports of torture and death in police custody and in remand centres. Freedom of expression is criminalised in Fiji. There's an increasing use of sedition and other criminal provisions to arrest and attack the media."
Fiji recently ratified the UN convention against torture.