Public Health Policing in Fiji 2026 program is supported by the Australian Government and implemented by the Global Law Enforcement and Public Health Association (GLEPHA).
Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) is supporting Fiji’s national response to the emerging HIV epidemic. Through this partnership, the Kirby Institute has contracted the Global Law Enforcement and Public Health Association (GLEPHA) to deliver a 12‑month program in 2026 focused on strengthening public health‑aligned policing and justice practices.
The program supports police, prosecutors, legal officials, health partners, and community leaders to respond confidently and effectively to Fiji’s evolving HIV environment.
In 2025, the Fiji Police Force and legal sector leaders made a request via the Ministry of Health and Medical Services for support in regard to their roles in the rapidly shifting HIV situation driven by methamphetamine injecting and sexual transmission. Responses by the justice system directly influence:
Legal and policy reforms are underway, but daily policing and law enforcement decisions already shape outcomes. This program engages police and justice actors now, while long‑term reforms continue.
To support Fiji’s law enforcement and justice sectors to adopt public health‑aligned policing and legal practices that protect LE officials safety and wellbeing, reduce HIV transmission, strengthen community safety, and enhance institutional effectiveness.
GLEPHA Fellow Dr Melissa Jardine presented the ARC Discovery Project multi-year research titled “Improving the Policing of Sexual and Domestic Violence in Fiji” with Professor Kerry Carrington at University of the Sunshine Coast and the Asian Criminological Society conference in Brisbane.
In Fiji, where gender-based violence rates are among the highest in the world, this research examines how policing responses can be strengthened to better support victims.
This page will be updated with more developments. Please stay tuned.
The Global Law Enforcement and Public Health Association (GLEPHA) is a not for profit, membership based association whose Mission is to promote research, understanding and practice at the intersection of law enforcement and public health.