𝐅𝐂𝐒 𝐇𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐬 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐰𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐩

The Fiji Corrections Service today recieved a 19-member Commonwealth Justice sector group and conducted what was a historic round table discussion at the Lautoka Corrections Complex.

The discussion was inclusive of inmates, Commonwealth justice ministers, Government officials and and Non-Commissioned Officers (NCO’s) of the FCS.

The visit follows the presentation of the Commonwealth Award to the FCS in recognition of the Yellow Ribbon Program.

“It is indeed a great honour and privilege for us to receive such an

esteemed delegation representing the justice leadership of the Commonwealth,” Acting Commissioner, Mr Auta Moceisuva said in his openning address.

“The Fiji Corrections Service continues to evolve from a traditionally custodial institution into a modern correctional organization anchored on rehabilitation, human rights compliance, and community reintegration.

“We are guided by the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners — the Mandela Rules — and we always ensure that the dignity of every person in our custody is upheld, while maintaining firm discipline and security.

“Here in the Fiji Corrections Service, our officers manage a diverse offender population, implement structured rehabilitation programs,

and work closely with stakeholders, faith-based organizations, and community leaders to prepare inmates for reintegration into society,” he added.

The workshop was facillitated by Justice Defenders, founder Alex Mclean from Jamaica and Morris Kaberia from Kenya.

The sitting saw partipants go through a series of questions where inmates and officers shared their experience of living and working in Prison, the rehabilitation program and the challenges they faces daily.

The goal was to give the Commonwealth Group and government officials a realistic picture of corrections work on the ground which they can use to influence policies in their own countries and also to fully understand the award winning Yellow Ribbon program.

Justice Defenders is an organisation that works within the Commonwealth Justice Sector, to enhance and promote the upskilling and education of inmates and officers to become law practitioners who can assist those in the system.

Mr. Alex Mclean shared that in his experience of touring over 120 prisons across the Commonwealth, Fiji’s prison was the most unique and innovative where officers and inmates worked in unison to achieve transformation and intergration.

“Effective corrections is not merely about

confinement — it is about transformation in the understanding that prison can be an opportunity for change and for hope of a better future despite your crimes.,” said Mr Mclean.

Justice Minister, Hon Siromi Turaga paid tribute to the tireless work put in by the past and current Commissioners, Men and women and their families of Corrections.

“This is such a big recognition for a small place like Fiji whom the world now feels have created a platform for the sucessful transformation and intergration of Inmates.

Mr Moceisuva in the end acknowledged that he challenges faced by correctional systems globally: aging infrastructure, overcrowding pressures, resource

limitations, and the increasing complexity of offender profiles.

“However, we see these challenges not as setbacks, but as opportunities for innovation, partnerships, and reform.”

The Fiji Corrections Service is currently pursuing key strategic

priorities which include:

• Modernization of our infrastructure to align with international

human rights standards;

• Strengthening officer training and professional development;

• Digitization and modernization of our records and security

systems;

• Expansion of rehabilitative industries and structured enterprise

initiatives; and

• Enhancing collaboration with regional and international

partners.

“The visit today encourages and reinforces that Fiji is an integral member of Commonwealth family — one that values accountability, fairness, and the rule of law.

“We will always be open to strengthening institutional resilience and advancing sustainable justice in our centers, ” he said.

The series of events this week will be beneficial for the FCS as a recognised entity in the Justice and Law sector in the Commonwealth.