Around 3,000 delegates from around the world, including representatives from all Forum member countries, will meet in Samoa next week to discuss global efforts to address the unique challenges faced by small island developing states.
“This international meeting in Samoa, which builds on the outcomes of the Rio+20 Summit and the 5 year review of the Mauritius Strategy for the Implementation of the Barbados Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States (SIDS), held in 2012 and 2010, respectively, will be an important opportunity to assess global efforts to contribute to the sustainable development of SIDS,” said Tuiloma Neroni Slade, Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat. “These discussions are particularly important for the countries in the Pacific region, many of which are reliant on long-term partnerships to address their unique vulnerabilities and development challenges.”
“The Pacific region is well placed to contribute to this Conference and show case examples of practical and sustainable partnerships. We are also ready to implement the outcomes of the S.A.M.O.A. Pathway document at the regional level through implementing the Framework for Pacific Regionalism, which was endorsed by Pacific Leaders’ at their meeting in Palau earlier this month,” explained the Secretary General. “ It is important that we use existing regional arrangements in the Pacific, rather than building parallel systems, to support Pacific countries in implementing the outcomes of this Conference.”
“I am pleased that Pacific island countries and their partners in the region, supported by the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, will be able to show case their work under the Forum Compact to strengthen development effectiveness. This innovative partnership demonstrates the importance of political leadership, effective institutions and mutual accountability to drive better use of local and external resources to improve the lives of Pacific people,” explained the Secretary General.
“A second side event will focus on the Pacific ocean, which is our home and central to achieving sustainable development in this region. It will launch the Pacific Oceans Alliance, an important open-ended partnership to coordinate high-level political leadership, and improve coordination and coherence of policy between multiple key players with a stake in the sustainable development, management and conservation of the Ocean.”
The Third International Conference on Small Island Developing States will be held in Apia, Samoa from 1-4 September. The Forum Secretariat will host the side event − Forum Compact: achieving sustainable development through effective institutions and mutually accountable partnerships in the Pacific and co-host a second side event Our Sea of Islands, Our Livelihoods, Our Oceania − The Pacific Ocean Alliance.
The Forum Compact side event will be held on Tuesday 2 September from 1:00-2:30pm at the Conference Centre, Room CR3.
Panelists include: HE Tuilaepa Aiono Sailele Malielegaoi, Prime Minister of Samoa; the Hon Peter O’Neill, the Prime Minister of PNG; HE Anote Tong, President of Kiribati; Senator Mason, the Australian Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister f or Foreign Affairs; Ms Helen Clark, UNDP Administrator; Mr Erik Solheim, Chair of the OECD Development Assistance Committee; Mr Stephen Groff, Vice President Asian Development Bank; and Mr Craig Hawke, NZ Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
It will be moderated by Ms Veronica Pedrosa, broadcast journalist for Al Jazeera network.
The Pacific Ocean Alliance side event will be held on Monday 1 September from 1:00-2:30pm at the Conference Centre, Room CR3.
In addition to a performance from dancers from the Oceanic Centre at the University of the South Pacific, panelists include: HE Tommy Remengesau Jr, President of Palau and current Forum Chair; HE Peter O’Neill, Prime Minister of PNG; HE Enele Sopoaga, Prime Minister of Tuvalu; Ms Rachel Kyte, Vice President and Special Envoy, Climate Change Group, World Bank; Mr Miguel de Serpa Soares, UN Under Secretary General for Legal Affairs and United Nations Legal Counsel; Dr Greg Stone, Senior Vice President and Chief Ocean Scientist, Conservation International; Dr Ulrike Guerin, Secretary of the Convention on the Protection of Underwater Cultural Heritage, UNESCO; Mr Sefanaia Nawadra, deputy Director of SPREP; Mr Ilisoni Vuidreketi, CEO of the South Pacific Tourism Organisation; Mr Moses Amos, Director of the Fisheries, Aquaculture and Marine Ecosystems of the SPC; and Mr Etika Rupeni, Technical Adviser, Locally-Managed Marine Area Network.
PIFS