Introduction

This book is about human rights in a particular region of the world: the island countries of the South West Pacific. However, this topic cannot be divorced from a wide range of other topics such as constitutions, legal institutions and structures, social organisation, culture and custom, tradition and change, especially in the Pacific regionwhere the legal systems are complex and perceptions of what rights are or should be varies widely. Consequently, although a range of issues are discussed in separate chapters, in fact they are closely related, and indeed sometimes difficult to separate. The inclusion of certain matters in one chapter rather than in another is therefore somewhat artificial; it could be done differently. It should also be borne in mind that this book looks at the human rights of a region, not just one country but many; each of which has its own unique characteristics, languages, history, people and culture. Some assertions and examples therefore will not be applicable to all countries in general but only to a few; however it is not proposed to take each country separately but to consider shared themes. In some cases, these are best illustrated by examples drawn from a limited range of jurisdictions or even a sole jurisdiction, while with others a wider range of examples may be both applicable and available. The region does not exist in isolation – although many islands in it are isolated – but in a broader global framework. Because of this there will also be reference to international influences, and the comparative experience of countries which may share some of the characteristics of, or challenges faced by, Pacific island countries.