Although Tonga has basic Human Rights written into its Constitution, there is still a need to include International Human Rights, delegates from civil society organizations learned yesterday.

They were taking part in a two-days workshop that aims at educating local civil society on the Bill of Rights, that opened in Nuku'alofa.

'‘Akanete Lauti, the Director of the Friendly Islands Human Rights and Democracy Movement, the local organiser of the workshop, said that although Tonga already has included in its constitution basic human rights such as the right to education, "it is still very limited and there is a need to expand it to include International human rights conventions, and this workshop will be the groundwork for that."

Since the Tongan Constitution was passed into law there had been many changes in the country, she said. The society and communities and the people of Tonga are more aware of their rights, therefore additional human rights provisions should be included to ensure that people's rights are better protected, to enable citizens to gain better access to goods and services, and to ensure compliance with good governance to be in line with the United Nations International Bill of Rights, she said.

Imrana Jalal a Human Rights Advisor for the Pacific Regional Rights Resource Team (RRRT) from Suva who is conducting the workshop, emphasised that the presence of the Bill of Rights defines the nature of democracy in a country, for example the right to vote and the right to freedom of speech.

"“If people were to demand accountability from those in power, or insist on participating in governing the country, having an expanded Bill of Rights would allow people to do that," Imrana said.

She added there is support in Tonga for an expanded Bill of Rights so that the language, the style and substance of the provisions should be changed to reflect the newer ways of framing human rights in modern constitutions.

The workshop is attended by about 20 people from various Civil Society organisations and is held for two days from August 30-31, organized by the Friendly Islands Human Rights and Democracy Movement in collaboration with the United Nations Development Plan, the Regional Rights Resource Team and the Legal Literacy Project.