Fiji: The family journey continues
Source:
Regional Rights Resource Team RRRT’s extensive involvement in Fiji’s family law reform process dates back nearly 10 years.
It includes playing a critical role in lobbying, advocacy and technical support for what is widely considered a groundbreaking piece of legislation in the Pacific region.
Now, with Fiji’s new Family Law Act 2003 due to come into effect mid-year, we continue our support through raising awareness among the public and legal fraternity.
In mid-January, our Human Rights Adviser Imrana Jalal ran sessions with 75 members of the Fiji Law Society on the basics of the new legislation and human rights standards consistent with the law. Imrana covered the provisions of the Act systematically, with an emphasis on matrimonial property. With practice making perfect, the lawyers were then given case studies in which they were asked to apply the new law and come up with potential decisions. They were also asked to think of potential decisions based on human rights standards – quite a difficult exercise requiring lawyers to not only apply brand new law, but to change years of habit. The dawn of a new era, for women and children in particular, nears.
Email: registry@rrrt.org.fj
Website: www.rrrt.org
In mid-January, our Human Rights Adviser Imrana Jalal ran sessions with 75 members of the Fiji Law Society on the basics of the new legislation and human rights standards consistent with the law. Imrana covered the provisions of the Act systematically, with an emphasis on matrimonial property. With practice making perfect, the lawyers were then given case studies in which they were asked to apply the new law and come up with potential decisions. They were also asked to think of potential decisions based on human rights standards – quite a difficult exercise requiring lawyers to not only apply brand new law, but to change years of habit. The dawn of a new era, for women and children in particular, nears.
Email: registry@rrrt.org.fj
Website: www.rrrt.org
