The fourth Pacific Human Rights Film Festival that kicked off last week has so far screened 33 films and attracted around 3000 attendees from different countries.

The University of the South Pacific deputy head of the School of Pacific Arts, Culture and Education Space Dr Rosiana Lagi while speaking at the screening of films at USP last Monday, congratulated the collaborative work of the Pacific Community, SPC, The University of the South Pacific, the New Zealand High Commission to Fiji, and the United Nations office of the High Commission for Human Rights for the fruition of the event.

She said the event (films screened) covered a wide and diverse range of human rights topics.

“It is an event that creates a safe space for the exploration and ‘veitalanoa’ on topical issues and taboo issues,” Dr Lagi said.

“For those of you joining this festival for the first time, this festival reaches audiences from across 12 Pacific island countries and territories through the USP network and its original campuses.

“It connects those that do not traditionally find themselves in the human rights sector through film screenings as has been going on the past week, this is the second week, and also through ‘veitalanoa’ sessions and the free exchange of ideas and opinions.”