Fiji fronted up to the Working Group of the Human Rights Council's Universal Periodic Review (UPR) on Thursday at the Human Rights Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, according to a press release issued by the Fiji government on Saturday.

The UPR process, which is in its 7th Session, is designed to prompt, support, and expand the promotion and protection of human rights and involves assessing states' human rights records and addressing human rights violations wherever they occur.

Presenting Fiji's Country Report, Peceli Vocea, Fiji's Permanent Representative to the EU said that "Fiji welcomes the Review and regards it as an opportunity to declare the current status of its human rights situation, employing such status as a benchmark for future human rights reporting , hoping that in areas found wanting,it will be improved upon in future reviews."

Thirty-three countries took the floor to comment on Fiji's Report, according to the press release.

Members of the Working Group raised questions and proposed recommendations on ways Human Rights situation in Fiji could be improved upon by Government.

Acknowledging the Fiji government's Roadmap, Russia, Maldives, Mexico and the Philippines and China urged the international community to support Fiji in its endeavor to return to democracy.

Morroco also called on the international community to assist Fiji persist with its reforms as set out in the Roadmap for Democracy and Sustainable Socio-Economic Development.

The Maldives urged the international community to play its part and show goodwill toward Fiji. "Instead of condemning, the international community must extend assistance and work with Fijians to bring about reforms that Fiji itself knows are necessary."

Britain and the United States repeated their appeal for an early return to parliamentary rule.

Members of the Working Group, almost unanimously, urged Fiji to consider ratifying the remaining 14 core Human Rights conventions to which Fiji is yet to be a party.

Some states also urged full investigations of allegations of human rights abuses.

Others recommended the lifting of the Public Emergency Regulations.

The Working Group presented Fiji with a total of 116 recommendations. Fiji will now consider whether or not it will accept these recommendations.

In his closing remark, Vocea thanked members of the Working Group for extending a helping hand to assist Fiji.

"We have witnessed guiding advice and genuine gesture of nations assisting nations, there was no finger pointing here, only desires to seek out information," he said.

Vocea added that he also witnessed real and legitimate efforts by member states at suggesting recommendations that would lead to the fuller enjoyment by the people of Fiji of their human rights.