ADB Trains Fijian Prosecutors on the Bench Book on Children

On 12–18 December 2024, ADB conducted a comprehensive training program on the Fiji Bench Book on Children (Parts A and B) for Fiji's Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP). Delivered through the Law and Policy Reform Program, the training encompassed key aspects of child justice, including child development, communication strategies, pre-trial and trial procedures, sensitive questioning techniques, best practices for addressing the disproportionate impact of violence on children, particularly girls, and balancing the rights of defendants and child victims, including those with special needs and disabilities.

In his opening remarks, ADB's Head of Country Operations for Fiji, Nissanka Salgado, emphasized ADB's whole-of-sector approach. He noted that this training builds upon the judicial training conducted in August 2024, where the entire Fijian judiciary participated, and will be followed by training for all Legal Aid Commission lawyers in March 2025. This coordinated approach ensures that all stakeholders possess a shared understanding of child justice principles, ultimately contributing to more just and equitable outcomes.

Acting Director of Public Prosecutions Nancy Tikoisuva underscored the critical importance of this training, highlighting that these cases often present significant complexities, especially when the perpetrators are also children.

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