Human Dignity and the Media in Fiji

Nemani Delaibatiki is a former editor of the Fiji Sun, founding editor in chief of the Fiji Daily Post, and former president of the Fiji Journalists Association and Fijian Media Association. This post is based on his remarks presented during the panel “Human Dignity and the Media in Oceania” at the Oceanian Perspectives on Human Dignity Conference held at BYU–Hawaii in Laie, Oahu, Hawaii, 23–25 April 2024.

Bula vinaka.

It has been made clear in this conference that human dignity is based on a set of core universal values and principles that transcends culture, ethnicity, nationalities, religions, socioeconomic status, and politics. The values that underpin human dignity include respect, equal rights, the freedom to choose, and access to essential services and goods that ensure a reasonable standard of living, security, and peace.

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Human Dignity from the Perspective of the Pasifica Household of God

Rev. James S. Bhagwan is an ordained minister of the Methodist Church and general secretary of the Pacific Conference of Churches. This post is based on his remarks presented during the panel “Human Dignity and Faith Traditions in Oceania” at the Oceanian Perspectives on Human Dignity Conference held at BYU–Hawaii in Laie, Oahu, Hawaii, 23–25 April 2024.

I begin by acknowledging that deep spirituality permeates the communities of Oceania and is at the heart of the Pacific peoples’ relationship with each other and with the world. Spirituality is integral to the way we interpret, understand, and interact with one another and with the natural world. And this spirituality is enhanced by the many faith traditions of this world, which have grown roots in our diverse Pacific communities. These faith traditions are shared with 85% of those who share this planet. The language of spirituality—the expression in metaphor, in image, in silence, in hymns of praise and cries for justice, in reflection and meditation, in ethical action, in confession and repentance, and in justice and compassion—is part of our way of life. That spirituality is not only experienced through faith communities but also through indigenous culture—that deep sense of vanua or fenua, of rootedness not only to land but also rootedness in respect and celebration of just relationships with all creation.

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Oceanian Perspectives on Human Dignity

From 23 to 25 April 2024, the ICLRS, along with BYU–Hawaii and the BYU–Hawaii Religious Freedom and Human Dignity Initiative, cosponsored the second annual conference dedicated to Asia-Pacific perspectives on human dignity. Held at BYU–Hawaii in Laie, Oahu, Hawaii, the 2024 conference, “Oceanian Perspectives on Human Dignity,” featured insights on human dignity from scholars, students, government leaders, religious leaders, and civil society actors from various Oceanian countries. One purpose of the conference was to inform government leaders, policymakers, civil society leaders, and other decision-makers, as they seek to find new and better ways to address the unique challenges of Pacific communities.

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