A global watchdog has issued a warning over the growing influence of China in the Pacific which could be impacting civic freedoms on the island nations, according to its own report.

CIVICUS, the alliance of civil society organisations and activists, found a lack of human rights in national institutions across eight Pacific island nations.

The alliance is calling on the countries "to establish national human rights institutions as soon as possible".

The report revealed Kiribati, Nauru, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu undoubtedly have a lack of human rights' institutions.

It also expressed concern that Kiribati, Nauru, Solomon Islands and Tonga have not signed the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

The report found while some constitutional protections do exist, without the treaty's framework governments are not formally required to align their national laws with global human rights.

Asia-Pacific researcher Josef Benedict, the author in the report, said it can create a "dangerous environment where fundamental rights are not respected".

"This is the concern that when these countries do not ratify it, then they may pass laws that are then inconsistent or contradict international standards," he said.

"These laws and policies are then used to criminalise activists and others, but it can also create an environment of fear.

"When people fear that if they speak up, they will be hauled off by the police or they will be even prosecuted, then people censor themselves."

The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights have been ratified by 175 UN member states around the world.

Half of the eight Pacific islands that were analysed in the CIVICUS report are yet to sign up to the document.

Mr Benedict said geopolitical influences from Beijing have affected civic freedoms in the region.

The report specifically pinpointed China as a threat to freedom of speech.

Mr Benedict said there have been noted instances where journalists were restricted accessing press conferences in the Pacific when Chinese Communist Party officials were involved during recent funding announcements.

"This is a real concern China... where there's virtually no civic freedoms, and many activists are in prison," he said.

"We are extremely concerned about that influence in the Pacific region.

"I think it's critical that democracies in the region, and particularly Australia, New Zealand, also ensure they are speaking up on behalf of these rights to push back on any forms of censorship or controls that China will bring."

Alongside press freedom, the safety and well-being of media personnel is also a concern.

Mr Benedict said there have been multiple reports from across the Pacific of press employees being attacked for their work.

He said journalists should be able to do their jobs without being intimidated or attacked - and police need to "take the matter seriously".

"Press freedom is a critical aspect of freedom of expression... and journalists are critical in this," Mr Benedict said.

"They help ensure that citizens know the kind of laws and policies that are being passed in the country, understand the projects being established by government, and therefore they often on the front line of intimidation attacks just because of the work that they are doing."

While the report did show that the civic space is overall positive on a global scale, there are clear gaps in the system to operate a fully democratic process.

Mr Benedict said having civil organisations are integral to addressing violations of human rights in the country.

"National Human Rights Institutions are critical in the country," he said.

"They help advise government around the laws and policies that they are putting together.

"They play a role in ensuring that citizens can hold governments accountable when violations do happen... and creates an avenue for citizens to file complaints, but also to monitor what's been happening in the country."

The report concluded with recommendations for Pacific governments to strengthen protections of human rights.

It called for governments to ensure they are compliant with international standards for civil human rights, and urges for freedom of information laws to be implemented to create greater transparency and accountability across the region.