Human rights in the Pacific: a study in symbolic interactionism

In this lecture Director, Shaista Shameem, Fiji Human Rights Commission argues that there is an apparent disjunction between western and Pacific notions of law and order, which include human rights. "Human rights are regarded suspiciously as that which undermine the established order – an order which, from my standpoint at least, is composed of that hegemonic troika of traditional, church and, in most if not all cases, male authoritarian structures. Of course, many people and societies will respond to new ideas whether or not these ideas will cause them to make structural adjustments, but others will not. It is difficult to guess what will change attitudes. However, there is one thing I do know for sure and that is that an imposed legal framework for the protection of human rights cannot by itself modify a society or create a new social environment.