CIVICUS released a report on civic freedoms across eight Pacific countries last month. Photo: Caleb Fotheringham
A global alliance of civil society organisations says there is a lack of national human rights institutions in some Pacific countries.
CIVICUS released a report on civic freedoms across eight Pacific countries last month.
While the report showed the civic space is comparatively positive on a global scale, there are gaps in the system the alliance is concerned with.
It revealed that Kiribati, Nauru, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu have no human rights institutions, despite repeated recommendations from the United Nations.
Asia-Pacific researcher Josef Benedict said such civil organisations are very important to address any violations of human rights in the country.
"National Human Rights Institutions are critical in the country," he said.
"They help advise government around the laws and policies that they are putting together. They play a role in also ensuring that citizens can hold governments accountable when violations happen... and creates an avenue for citizens to file complaints, but also to monitor what's happening in the country."
CIVICUS is calling on these countries "to establish national human rights institutions as soon as possible".
Benedict said it is also concerning that Kiribati, Nauru, Solomon Islands and Tonga have not signed the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).
The report shows that while constitutional protections do exist, without the treaty's framework, governments are not formally required to align their national laws with global human rights norms.
He said this can create a "dangerous environment where fundamental rights are not respected".
"This is the concern that when these countries do not ratify it, then they may pass laws that are then inconsistent or contradict international standards.
"These laws and policies are then used to criminalise activists and others, but also create an environment of fear. When people fear that if they speak up, they will be hauled off by the police or they will be prosecuted, then people censor themselves."
The ICCPR has been ratified by 175 countries around the world. Of the eight Pacific islands analysed in the CIVICUS report, half have not signed the document.
He said geopolitical influences can also affect civic freedoms in the region.
The report pinpointed China as a threat to freedom of speech.
Benedict said there have been a number of instances where journalists have been restricted from accessing press conferences when China visits Pacific countries.
"I think this is a real concern. China, is a country... where there's virtually no civic freedoms, and many activists are in prison," he said.
"We are extremely concerned about that influence in the Pacific region. I think it's critical that democracies in the region, and particularly Australia, New Zealand, also ensure they are speaking up on behalf of these rights, and to push back on any forms of censorship or controls that China will bring."
Alongside press freedom, the safety and well-being of media personnel is a concern of its own.
Benedict said there have been reports from across the Pacific of press employees being attacked for their work.
He said journalists have should be able to do their jobs without being intimidated or attacked, and police need to take the matter seriously.
"Press freedom is a critical aspect of freedom of expression... and journalists are critical in this.
"They help ensure that citizens know the kind of laws and policies that are being passed in the country, understand the projects being established by government, and therefore they often on the front line of intimidation attacks just because of the work that they are doing."
The report concludes with recommendations for Pacific governments to strengthen protections of human rights.
It calls for governments to ensure they are compliant with international standards for civil human rights.
It also urges for 'freedom of information laws' to be implemented to create transparency and accountability across the region.
