Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1697734098585.pdf (Fiji)
PARLIAMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF FIJI STANDING COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND DEFENCE CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS & PUBLIC CONSULTATION ON THE:  TREATY ON THE PROHIBITION OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS;  INTERNATIONAL LABOUR ORGNIZATION-VIOLENCE AND HARASSMENT CONVENTION 2019;  INTERNATIONAL LABOUR ORGANIZATION PROTOCOL OF 2002 TO THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH CONVENTION 1981.
The Parliament Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence, established pursuant to Standing Order 109 (2) (e) of the Standing Orders of Parliament, is currently reviewing the three (3) Treaties: (1) Treaty On The Prohibition Of Nuclear Weapons; (2) International Labour Organization – Violence and Harassment Convention 2019; (3) International Labour Organization Protocol of 2002 to the Occupational Safety and Health Convention 1981.
The Committee invites interested stakeholders and individuals to make oral or written submissions on the mentioned treaties.

The Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons aims to:     Sets out a comprehensive set of prohibitions against participating in any nuclear weapon activities.

These include undertakings by member States to the Treaty not to develop, test, produce, acquire, process, stockpile, use or threaten to use nuclear weapons.
The Treaty also prohibits the deployment of nuclear weapons on national territory and the provision of assistance to any State in the conduct of prohibited activities.

States Parties are obliged to prevent and suppress any activity prohibited under the Treaty undertaken by persons or on territories under its jurisdiction or control.
The Treaty also obliges States Parties to provide adequate assistance to individuals affected by the use or testing of nuclear weapons, as well as to take necessary and appropriate jurisdiction or control measure of environmental remediation contaminated as a result of activities related to the testing or use of nuclear weapons.

Fiji was one of the countries that signed the Treaty at the margins of the 72nd Session of the United Nations General Assembly on 20 September 2017.
The Treaty is currently not in force.

It will enter into force 90 days after the fiftieth instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession has been deposited.

There are currently only 35 States Parties to the Treaty.
The Treaty complements the existing nuclear disarmament instruments namely the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) and the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test- Ban Treaty (CTBT) and establishes general prohibitions and obligations as well as political commitment to achieve and maintain a nuclear–weapon free world.
in areas under its The International Labour Organization –Violence and Harassment Convention 2019 aims to:  Highlight the requirements for every State Party to respect, promote and realise the right   of everyone to a world of work free from violence and harassment.

The Convention was adopted on 21 June 2019 and comes into force twelve months after the date on which the ratifications of two members have been registered with the ILO Director General.
States Parties must also with a view to preventing and eliminating violence and harassment in the world of work, shall respect, promote and realize the fundamental principles and rights at work, namely freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining, the elimination of all forms of forced or compulsory labour, the effective abolition of child labour and the elimination of discrimination in respect of employment and occupation, as well as promote decent work.
 Ratification of the Convention will strengthen Fiji’s national laws and policies such as, the Employment Relations Act 2007, the National Sexual Harassment Policy, National Gender Policy and also complement the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) which Fiji ratified in 1995.
The International Labour Organization Protocol of 2002 to the Occupational Safety and Health Convention 1981 aims to:  Provides for the adoption of a coherent national occupational safety and health policy, as well as action to be taken by governments and within enterprises to promote occupational safety and health and to improve working conditions.

This policy shall be developed by taking into consideration national conditions and practice.
The Protocol calls for the establishment and the periodic review of requirements and procedures for the recording and notification of occupational accidents and diseases, and for the publication of related annual statistics.

 Highlight the Protocol was formulated in 2002 as a Protocol to the ILO Occupational Safety and Health Convention 1981 (Convention).

The Protocol has a total of 11 Articles and was enacted to give effect to Articles 4 and 11 of the Convention.
Fiji’s legislative framework is already in compliance with all the obligations under the Protocol.

  Under section 20 of the Fijian Constitution, every person has the right to fair employment   practices, including humane treatment and proper working conditions.

The Health and Safety at Work Act 1996 (Act) and the Health and Safety at Work (Administration) Regulations 1997 (Regulations) provide the minimum requirements pertaining to health and safety at work.
In this regard, they provide for the systems of notification and recordings of occupational accidents, occupational diseases, dangerous occurrences and suspected cases of occupational diseases by the employers and the competent authorities in Fiji.

Fiji ratified the International Labour Organization Occupational Safety and Health Convention 1981 (the Convention) on 28 May 2008.
 Ratification of the Protocol will further strengthen and complement Fiji’s national laws and policies some of which are: (a) Employment Relations Act 2007, Health and Safety at Work Act 1996; (b) Health and Safety and Work (Control of Hazardous Substance) Regulations 2006; (c) Health and Safety at Work (Diving) Regulations 2006; (d) Health and Safety at Work (Administration) Regulations 1997; (e) Accident Compensation (Employment Accidents) Regulations 2018.
The Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence will be conducting Public Consultations with detailed information as follows: Date Time Venue Thursday, 5th March, 2020 Monday, 9th March, 2020 9.00am to 1.00pm 9.30am to 12.00pm Lautoka City Council Mayoral Chambers, Lautoka Big Committee Room 1, Parliament Building, Suva Written or oral submissions can be submitted through the contacts provided above or via correspondence addressed to: The Chairperson Parliament Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence PO Box 2352 Government Buildings SUVA Please note that your submission will be considered a public document, therefore please use discretion when providing written submissions.
For further information please contact Committee Secretariat staff, Mr. Jacob Abraham on email: jacob.abraham@parliament.gov.fj or telephone 679-892-5212/ 679-893-8386.

Furthermore, it is requested that persons wishing to make a submission at the Parliament Complex, Government Buildings, Suva, are to contact the above-named Secretariat.

……………………… Hon.

Alexander O’Connor Chairperson