Pacific Region Policy Consultation underway in Tonga [1]
Thursday, February 1, 2018 - 17:40
Tonga is having its say this week on a range of current Pacific regional priorities, at consultation workshops with representatives from the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS) in Nuku’alofa.
The PIFS team are gathering the views of Government officials, civil society, private sector and the broader public, which will help develop inclusive and relevant policies at a Pacific region level.
PIFS Director, Governance & Engagement, Sione Tekiteki, who is leading the team, said the consultation is “to get perspectives of different stakeholders within the region on what are some of the key issues that you would like to try and resolve as a collective solution by forum members”.
“There are some key issues that we are looking to discuss and get some specific feedback on. These relate to the regional security and some of the key issues that’s happening, there’s also discussion around foreign policy.”
He said there would also be broader discussions on the framework for resilient development in the Pacific, and labour mobility and harmonization and mobility of business people around the region among others.
“We really see this opportunity for everybody including the public and media to come and participate and share your views and provide feedback on how we can make our region stronger and more prosperous moving forward.”
“The objective is to gather these [views] and consolidate and provide to forum leaders when they next meet.”
Example
PIFS Conflict Prevention Adviser, Tim Bryar, said an example of the outcome of such consultations is the issue with cervical cancer.
“Cervical cancer rates in particular parts of the Pacific were quite high and there was also high cost to access vaccines.”
“Through this process and the leaders meeting, we’ve been able to increase the number of countries to be able to afford the vaccination through bulk procurement. In that way, women in the Pacific are benefiting from a regional action,” he said.
Another example is the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI) following civil unrest in the early 2000’s. Fifteen Pacific countries, including Tonga, partnered with the people and government of Solomon Islands to restore law and order.
PIFS will provide the outcome of their consultation to forum leaders who will meet in September this year in Nauru.