FINAL CALL FOR WRITTEN SUBMISSIONS
The Standing Committee on Justice, Law and Human Rights has been established pursuant to Section 109 of the Standing Orders of the Parliament of Fiji. The Standing Committee consist of the following Members of Parliament:
- Honourable Ashneel Sudhakar (Chair);
- Honourable Semesa Karavaki (Deputy Chair);
- Honourable Lorna Eden (Member);
- Honourable Matai Akauola Niumataiwalu (Member); and
- Honourable Niko Nawaikula (Member)
Pursuant to Standing Order 110 (1) (a), the Standing Committee has been tasked to scrutinize the Bills mentioned below which have been referred to it by Parliament, and to make necessary amendments to the Bills.
The Parliament Standing Committee on Justice, Law and Human Rights is in the final phase of scrutiny of the Bills and invites interested stakeholders and individuals to make written submissions on the following Bills:
- Adoption Bill, 2016 (Bill No. 21 of 2016) provides for local and inter-country adoption of children and access of information regarding adoption. The Bill focuses primarily on the court process for approving an adoption application, and does not address the adoption process as a whole.
- Code of Conduct Bill, 2016 (Bill No. 22 of 2016) establishes a Code of Conduct and other matters as prescribed under section 149 of the 2013 Constitution of the Republic of Fiji. The Fijian Government is therefore constitutionally bound to enact legislation, which gives effect to this section of the Fijian Constitution.
- Public Order (Amendment) Bill, 2016 (Bill No. 23 of 2016) amends the provisions in the Public Order Act (Cap. 20) to comply with international requirements under the United Nations Security Council Resolutions 2178 , 1267/1989,1988 and 1373. The Bill primarily deals with transportation of Nuclear Material and Terrorism related offences.
- Parliamentary Powers and Privileges Bill 2016 (Bill No. 28 of 2016) provides for the powers and privileges of Parliament, Members of Parliament and Officers of Parliament.
- Community-Based Corrections Bill 2016 (Bill No. 33 of 2016) provides for a community-based corrections system that fosters community-based sentencing options and the rehabilitation and reintegration of offenders as an alternative to prison sentences.
- Information Bill 2016 (Bill No. 34 of 2016) gives effect to sections 25 and 150 of the Constitution of the Republic of Fiji, to facilitate the right of access to information held by the government and public agencies, to correct or delete false or misleading information that directly affects a person, to promote access to information and for related matters.
- Electronic Transactions (Amendment) Bill 2016 (Bill 53 of 2016) seeks to harmonize provisions of the Promulgation with the Convention on the use of Electronic Communication in International Contracts (2005) and pave way for the State to accede and become a state party to the Convention.
The Committee invites members of the public and key stakeholders wishing to express their views on the above-mentioned Bills to lodge written submissions through email address sefanaia.tudonu@parliament.gov.fj or correspondence addressed to:
The Chairperson
Standing Committee on Justice, Law and Human Rights
PO Box 2352
Government Buildings
SUVA
Oral submissions will be limited to 15 minutes per individual/group/organization with 5 minutes allocated for questions. Oral submissions will primarily be based on written submissions received by the Committee. Copies of the Bills are available on the Parliament website (www.parliament.gov.fj).
Written submissions should be submitted to the Secretariat no later than 4pm on 11/11/16. Oral submissions will be heard by the Standing Committee on the following dates:
- 14/11/16 to 18/11/16
- 28/11/16 to 02/12/16
For further information and allocation of time slots for oral submissions, please contact Committee Secretary, Sefanaia Tudonu on email: sefanaia.tudonu@parliament.gov.fj or telephone 3225694.
