The Pacific region held a sub-regional Consultation on Violence against Children in Fiji from 26 until 28 September 2005, that aimed at building on the outcomes of the Bangkok Consultation in June 2005, while discussing ways and priorities in addressing the problem in the Pacific context specifically.

The event, which was preceded by a one-day Children’s Forum held on 24 September 2005, was jointly organized by a Pacific working group composed of UNICEF Pacific, Save the Children Fiji, the Fiji Ministry for Women, Social Welfare and Poverty Alleviation and the Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre. The Children’s Forum - 24 September 2005

Due to time and funding constraints, there were only nine children (seven from the larger Fiji Island and two from the nearby Island of Rabi which comes under Fiji’s jurisdiction) who participated. The group however fairly represented the great diversity that exists in Fiji. The age of the participants ranged between 15 and 18 years.

The two Under-18 Delegates who represented Fiji in the Bangkok Consultation in June, were peer facilitators at the Children’s Forum on 24 September, and joined the other 9 U-18 Delegates at the Pacific Consultation.

UNICEF Pacific funded the Children’s Forum, while Save the Children Fiji and other members of the Pacific Working group helped prepare the U-18 Delegates. Drawing on the Minimum Standards for an ethical and meaningful participation of children in international events used in Bangkok in June, one-on-one prepping was carried out for the U-18 delegates and their guardians. The process involved a one-week meeting with the U-18 selected (facilitated by the school principals and where possible the school counsellor) and the selected guardians

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