Elections
Monitoring 2018 General Election
The Commission monitored polling venues on the Election Day in 2018, ensuring observance of minimum human rights standards during the election process
The Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Commission has a constitutional mandate under section 45(4)(c) of the Fijian Constitution to monitoring, investigating and reporting on the observance of human rights in all spheres of life. As a National Human Rights Institution, the Commission undertook a key initiative in 2018 to monitor the 2018 General Election with an aim to ensure Fiji enjoys a free, fair and credible elections. The Commission played an instrumental role both in the pre-electoral and the post-electoral phases, promoting and monitoring protection of all human rights during the election process.
The Commission worked closely with the Fijian Elections Office in educating and informing the voters about the election process, in particular, features of a free and fair elections, observance of minimum human rights standards during the election, compliance with the Electoral Act and on the role of the media. A brochure was produced and jointly launched by the Commission and the Fijian Elections Office to educate voters and aspiring politicians and political parties on features of a free and fair elections and observance of minimum human rights standards during elections.
The Commission also monitored the pre-election preparations and campaign period, keeping a close eye on hate speech, statements related to racial and religious vilification and dissemination of information particularly on social media platforms which could have marred the integrity of the election process. The Director of the Commission, Mr. Ashwin Raj collaborated with the Fijian Elections Office in the pre-electoral and post-electoral phases, held joint press conferences on crucial issue such as racial and religious vilification, hate speech on social media, blackout period, dissemination of fake news and right to vote. The two institutions also held discussions with civil society organisations on electoral process which was facilitated by International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA).
Monitoring 2018 General Election
The Director led the Commission team (staff and Commissioner Nicole Daniels) to monitor polling venues and the election process on the Election Day. The team was deployed in the Central, Western and Northern divisions on the Election Day, to observe the polling venues located in urban, rural and remote areas, monitoring compliance of human rights standards.
The Director led the Commission team (staff and Commissioner Nicole Daniels) to monitor polling venues and the election process on the Election Day. The team was deployed in the Central, Western and Northern divisions on the Election Day, to observe the polling venues located in urban, rural and remote areas, monitoring compliance of human rights standards.
This consisted of 19 polling venues in northern division (Labasa, Seaqaqa & Dreketi – Macuata & Bua), 47 polling venues in western division (Nadroga, Nadi, Lautoka, Ba, Tavua & Rakiraki) and 21 polling venues in central division (Navua, Suva, Nasinu, Nausori and Tailevu). This exercise was in line with the Commission’s mandate to monitor observance of human rights standards during the electoral process.
Some observations noted during monitoring exercise include:
- Accessibility – accessing polling venue was challenging for some elderly and persons with disability in some areas due to harsh weather condition on Election Day
- Voter registration confusion – some voters found they were registered in another location
- Police presence was high at all polling venues providing safety and security to voters as well as the Election officials
- Poor lighting inside some polling venues
- Some voters were confused with the numerical on ballot paper and suggested there should be pictures of the candidates
- Adequate seats provided to the voters to wait around due to bad weather
- Election officials were generally applauded for their professionalism
Engaging with the MOG
The Director also held discussions with the Multinational Observer Group (the MOG) on observance of human rights standards during general elections. The MOG is a group of countries and international organisations invited by the Fijian Government to observe the 2018 Fijian General Election with key responsibility to assess whether Fijian voters were able to exercise their vote freely and whether the outcome of the election broadly represented the will of Fijian voters.
Engaging with Media
A democratic election is impossible without media. The Commission vigorously used the mainstream media to reach out to the public and to appraise freedom to campaign in the pre-electoral phase, keeping a tab on hate speech and intolerance on the grounds of race and religion. The Commission made calls to the voters on the Election Day on the importance of voting, encouraging them to cast their vote. The Director held a number of joint-press conferences with the Supervisor of Elections both during pre-poll phase, at the closing of polling stations and on the announcement of the final results, sending sound messages to the voters, political parties and candidates on their rights and responsibilities during the poll.
Director also appeared on live radio and television shows on the Election Day and in the post-electoral phase to reflect on the election process, campaigns, and political debates and to express concern on social media mania which sparked racial and religious vilification. An advertisement was also put out in the mainstream media, following the announcement of the outcome of the 2018 General Election , urging Fijians to report without fear any incidence of violence including racial and religious attacks either on the social media, in their communities or on the streets to the Commission.
