A Sustainable Pacific Community, will be the theme for the Pacific Regional Civil Society Organization CSO Forum meeting to be held in Nuku'alofa from Oct 12-15.

Siale 'Ilolahia the Executive Director of Tonga's Civil Society told Matangi Tonga Online last week that the six specific topics that CSO Forum will be looking at very closely are Climate Change, HIV/Aids and Gender Violence, Human Security, Accountable Leadership and Democratic Governance, Pacific Trade and Energy.

Siale said that the CSO Forum will be very specific when they deal with each topic. "With regards to Climate Change the meeting will be looking at the issue of sea level rising and how it is affecting each Pacific island.

"With HIV/Aids and Gender Violence we will be looking at the methods used for the promotion of the prevention methods, as well as looking at its interrelation to Gender Violence, domestic violence, violence against women and others."

Tonga Civil Society

The Tonga Civil Society, which will host the 2007 CSO Forum Meeting is a relatively young organisation. It was established in April 2006 and now has 45 members, mainly NGOs and youth groups. The membership fees is $20 pa'anga annually per organisation.

"Our main objective is to help our members in capacity building so they could better their businesses whether by networking with other organisations locally or regionally or through training programs," explained Siale.

The Society is managed by a board, and it has an Executive Director, and a staff of three.

Board members are Chairman Drew Havea of the Tonga National Youth Congress, Deputy Chairman 'Imaima Havea from the Tonga Family Planning with members Sione Taumoefolau from the Tonga Red Cross, Siketi Tonga of the Council of Churches, 'Ana Kavaefiafi from the Nurses Association and others.

Siale said that the operation of the Tonga Civil Society is funded by the United Nations Development Programme UNDP through the Government of Tonga.