Transcript
The Prime Minister's speech has been welcomed by the secretary for the NGO Coalition on Human Rights Monica Waqanisau who says the first step to any substantive transformative change is the admission of a problem.
Ms Waqanisau says the statement is an indication the government is making measures to comply with the convention against torture but it will take time to see change.
"It's been something that has been institutionalised and we have noticed that most of the reports that have come up have been allegations against State agents. We see this as a positive indicator but again, only time can tell if they will actually put this into action."
Earlier this month a video emerged on social media of four men being beaten by what appeared to be policemen. It is not the first time this has happened and a trial is ongoing of eight policemen and a military officer, who was Mr Bainimarama's body guard, for the rape of a man in custody who eventually died.
Ms Waqanisau says what she calls citizen journalism has meant the Prime Minister cannot avoid the issues.
"Before, these reports were often hard to document, but not it is coming up online and it's going viral so it is really something that you can't ignore. That has been the struggle before. I think for them, making these remarks, it is also that an acknowledgement that people are more aware of their rights."
Mr Bainimarama also said violence around the cultural practice of buturaki or beating was deeply ingrained in Fijian society but was no longer acceptable.
The Co-ordinator of the Fiji Women's Crisis Centre, Shamima Ali, says it has been an obstacle in the past.
"But we are working through that with the abolishment of corporal punishment in schools and also the village bylaws do not allow anyone to be public flogged and things like that. Though we still hear cases of that being done in some of the remote areas and some of the schools, but a lot has improved in that area."
However opposition MP Biman Prasad says the Prime Minister cannot talk about addressing cases of torture and violence when there are laws in place which infringe on human rights.
Mr Bainimarama had also said the government doesn't tolerate human rights abuses of any kind.
Mr Prasad says the comments mean it is now incumbent upon the government to review legislation that was put in place under Mr Bainimarama's military regime which restrict human rights.
"The Prime Minister can not give that kind of assurance, unless of course he also gives some of these draconian decrees like the Media Decree, the Public Order Amendment Decree, the Political Parties and other decrees that restrict freedom of assembly, freedom of speech and indeed curtail the human rights of people generally."
But Shamima Ali says the speech can be the start of change for Fiji.
"We all need to look out for that and be encouraging and demanding accountability on the statement that has been made. I think people will find it a bit difficult and scoff at it and so on, given the past history of what has gone on but we can make a new start. This is a new beginning."
Ms Ali has suggested that in the spirit of the speech, the government make a clear demarcation between the police and the military.
She says talk by the Police Commissioner, who is a former military land force commander, to have an armed unit ready to support the police should be reconsidered.
