Regional Civil Society Forum opens in Nuku'alofa [1]
Friday, October 12, 2007 - 12:01. Updated on Tuesday, July 21, 2015 - 15:30.
About a hundred Civil Society members from around the Pacific region are in Nuku'alofa to seek a Sustainable Pacific Community, by participating in the Regional Civil Society Organisation Forum opening today.
The Tongan Prime Minsiter Hon. Dr Feleti Sevele in his opening address noted the importance for Governments to work together with the Civil Society in running a country.
"With continuous dialogue, together we can make a difference in the lives of our people," he said.
The Civil Society will be discussing six topics including Climate Change, HIV/Aids and Gender Violence, Human Security, Accountable Leadership and Democratic Governance, Pacific Trade and Energy.
After the comprehensive discussions the Civil Society Forum will conclude by presenting their communique to the Secretary General Greg Urwin on Monday, October 15.
Siale 'Ilolahia the Executive Director of Tonga's Civil Society said that the Forum had invited for the first time members from Non Government organizations as observers during the Forum Meeting, and Tonga will be represented by Drew Havea and Papiloa Foliaki.
"This is a milestone for us because we will have two of our members in the meeting to observe and hear the issues being discussed," said Siale.
PIANGO
The CSO Forum meeting consist of 16 full members under the Pacific Islands Association of Non-Governmental Organisations commonly known as PIANGO.
PIANGO is the regional umbrella for NGO members including Tonga, Australia, New Zealand, Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, New Caledonia, Niue, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tahiti, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.
Interim members are Bougainville, East Timor, Guam, Palau, Wallis and Futuna and West Papua.