Confidentiality & Privacy Policy

Effective Date: Friday 6 June, 2025

1. Our Commitment to Your Privacy and Confidentiality

The Fiji Truth and Reconciliation Commission (hereinafter “the Commission,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) is deeply committed to ensuring the confidentiality, privacy, and security of all information shared with us, particularly through our official website fijitrc.org. This Policy outlines how we collect, use, store, protect, and share personal and sensitive information in the context of our mandate to promote truth, justice, reconciliation, and healing in Fiji.

We understand the profound importance and sensitivity of the information that may be shared with us, including personal testimonies, historical accounts, and expressions of experiences related to past events in Fiji. We are dedicated to handling this information with the utmost respect, care, and in accordance with applicable Fijian laws and international best practices for Truth and Reconciliation Commissions.

By accessing and using this website, or by submitting information to the Commission through any means, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to the terms of this Confidentiality & Privacy Policy.

2. The Nature and Purpose of the Commission

The Fiji Truth and Reconciliation Commission has been established to promote social cohesion through healing and reconciliation, by facilitating open and free engagement in truth-telling regarding the political upheavals during the coup periods from the year 1987 and to promote closure and healing for the survivors of these events. The information collected is vital for fulfilling these objectives.

3. Information We Collect

Given the nature of our work, we may collect a range of information, including highly sensitive personal data. This may include, but is not limited to:

Personal Identification Information:

Full Name
Contact Details (e.g., phone number, email address, postal address)
Date of Birth
Gender
Ethnicity (where voluntarily provided and relevant to a submission)
Location information (e.g., village, province of residence or event)

Testimonies and Submissions:

Detailed personal accounts of events, experiences, suffering, and impacts
Information about human rights violations, harm suffered, and involvement of individuals or groups
Information about alleged perpetrators (handled with extreme caution)
Information about witnesses
Supporting documentation or evidence provided with a submission (e.g., photographs, documents)

Website Usage Information (Non-Personally Identifiable):

IP Address (anonymized where possible)
Browser type and operating system
Pages visited and time spent on the website
Referring website

Information from Publicly Available Sources:

Records, reports, and archives relevant to the Commission’s mandate

4. How We Collect Information

Direct Submissions: Online forms, email, postal mail, in-person interviews
Contact Forms and Inquiries
Website Cookies and Similar Technologies
Third Parties: Civil society organizations, legal representatives (with consent)

5. How We Use Your Information

Receiving and Processing Submissions
Truth-Finding and Investigation
Supporting Reconciliation Processes
Research and Reporting (anonymized or with consent)
Victim Support and Referrals (with consent)
Communication (with consent)
Archiving (according to law and mandate)
Website Management

6. Legal Basis for Processing

Your Explicit Consent
The Commission’s Official Mandate
Legitimate Interests (e.g., website security, anonymous analytics)

7. Confidentiality, Sharing, and Disclosure of Information

Internal Access: Limited to authorized personnel
Public Reporting: Anonymized unless consent provided
Alleged Perpetrators: Handled per rules of procedure
Third-Party Providers: Bound by confidentiality agreements
Legal Obligations: Disclosure only if compelled by law
Archival Institutions: Transfer per national legislation

We DO NOT sell or rent personal information.

8. Data Security and Storage

Secure Data Storage
Encryption
Access Controls
Physical Security
Staff Training
Data Breach Procedures

9. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

Essential Operations
Performance and Analytics
Preferences

Cookie usage is controlled via consent banners or browser settings.

10. Your Rights Regarding Your Information

Right to Access
Right to Correction/Rectification
Right to Withdraw Submission/Consent (with limitations)
Right to Anonymity/Confidentiality
Right to be Informed
Right to Lodge a Complaint

11. Information from Children

Special care for submissions from individuals under 18
Parental/guardian consent required unless otherwise justified
Child-safe procedures and trained personnel

12. Data Retention and Archiving

Retained for the duration of the Commission’s mandate. Archived per Fijian law.

13. Links to Other Websites

Not responsible for privacy practices of external sites.

14. Changes to This Confidentiality & Privacy Policy

Updates posted with new effective dates. Major changes will be clearly communicated.

15. Contact Us

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Confidentiality & Privacy Policy, your personal information, or the practices of the Fiji Truth and Reconciliation Commission, please contact us.

We are committed to addressing your concerns in a timely and appropriate manner.