Dialogue Fiji has rebranded as the Centre for Democracy & Dialogue (CDD), with the organisation saying its new identity reflects an expanded mandate focused on strengthening democracy, human rights, civic participation and accountable governance in Fiji.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation Hon. Viliame Gavoka and European Union Ambassador to the Pacific Her Excellency Barbara Plinkert jointly launched CDD at Tanoa Plaza Hotel in Suva on Tuesday evening before a capacity audience representing government, the diplomatic community, political parties, civil society, multilateral agencies, academia, business, legal fraternity, youth and community organisations.
Gavoka described the change as an important milestone in the organisation’s journey since its establishment in 2008.
“The move from Dialogue Fiji to the Centre for Democracy and Dialogue is not a break with the past. It is an evolution that reflects the breadth of the organisation’s work and its ambitions for the future,” he said.
He said democracy and dialogue were closely connected.
“Democracy is a framework through which citizens take part in governing their country. Dialogue is the means through which people with different perspectives understand one another, find common ground, and work towards solutions in the national interest.”
Gavoka said Fiji’s diversity made constructive dialogue particularly important, stressing that democracy did not require agreement on every issue.
“A healthy democracy needs room for robust discussion and differing opinions, informed by facts, by respect, and by a genuine commitment to the national interest,” he said.
He added that democracy was “not only about elections”, but also about citizens understanding their rights and responsibilities, participating in public life and engaging with institutions.
“Government has an important responsibility to strengthen democratic institutions and to promote good governance, transparency, and accountability. But governments cannot do this alone,” Gavoka said.
He said civil society, academia, the media and community organisations all had important roles to play, and that CDD’s contribution mattered “not only for civil society, but for Fiji’s democratic development”.
EU Ambassador Barbara Plinkert described the launch as “much more than a change of a name”, saying it represented an opportunity to reaffirm a mission that was increasingly important for democracies everywhere.
She said that mission included “creating spaces where people can come together, listen to one another, participate meaningfully in public life, and work collectively towards solutions to the challenges facing their societies”.
“The European Union is very pleased to be associated with this important moment,” she said.
Plinkert said a strong and independent civil society was fundamental to healthy democracy.
“Supporting civil society, therefore, means supporting democracy itself,” she said, adding that democratic participation also required citizens to have their concerns heard and addressed.
She warned that democracies around the world were facing growing challenges, including foreign information manipulation, election interference and threats against journalists.
“Defending these key values never stops,” she said.
Plinkert said the EU’s longstanding partnership with Dialogue Fiji had been grounded in a shared understanding that democracy went beyond elections and institutions.
“It is also about participation, it’s about dialogue, it’s about accountability and inclusion, and the ability of citizens to have their voices heard,” she said.
She said the new CDD provided “an even stronger platform for dialogue, knowledge, civic engagement, and democratic participation”, and expressed the EU’s commitment to continuing its collaboration with the organisation.
CDD Chief Executive Officer Nilesh Lal said the rebranding reflected Dialogue Fiji’s evolution from an organisation primarily focused on dialogue and peacebuilding into one working across elections, constitutionalism, human rights, civic education, media, social cohesion, political participation, governance and public accountability.
“When we looked at this body of work, there was one very obvious thread running through almost everything that we do. That thread is democracy,” Lal said.
He said democracy had particular importance in Fiji because of its history of coups, constitutional abrogations and authoritarian rule.
“There are many countries where organisations can perhaps take democratic government for granted. Fiji is not one of them.”
Lal said Fiji now needed to prioritise democratic consolidation, where democratic norms became so firmly embedded that undemocratic responses to political disagreements were no longer contemplated.
“It means that when we dislike a government, we vote it out. When we disagree with a law, we challenge it through Parliament, the courts, public advocacy and democratic debate. When institutions fail, we reform them,” he said.
“We do not overthrow the democratic system itself. We do not talk about holding onto power by delaying elections.”
He said that in a genuinely consolidated democracy, any suggestion that elections could be delayed to retain political power should be considered unthinkable and would provoke immediate public outrage.
“Fiji has spent too much of its modern history rebuilding democracy after it has been disrupted,” Lal said.
“The challenge for our generation should be different. It should be to build a democracy strong enough that future generations never have to rebuild it again.”
