A three-days conference on "Security Sector Governance in the Pacific Region", was officially launched on April 28 by Tonga's Deputy Prime Minister, Dr Viliami Tangi.

He welcomed to Tonga the 89 participants, including the Minister of Defence for Fiji, Ratu Epeli Ganilau, the Minister of Defence for Papua New Guinea, Hon. Bob Dadae, and top security officials from Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, and Tonga; as well as overseas resource personalities.

Dr Tangi reminded the participants of the unique security and governance environment of the Pacific region "due to our different cultures, history and, unfortunately, for our neighbours the legacy of colonialism".

He thanked the UNDP Pacific Centre and the Forum Secretariat for co-hosting the conference, saying that it was further evidence of the support by the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, UNDP and development partners for the implementing of the Pacific Plan.

Mr Garry Wiseman, the manager of the UNDP Pacific Centre in his opening address told participants that the Pacific has a complex security and governance challenges, which included rising crime rates and civil disturbances, sexual and gender-based violence, weak border security and increasing trans-national organized crime, such as people trafficking, drugs and small arms smuggling and illicit financial transactions, as well as the global security challenge of terrorism. He said that during their three days of deliberation they would like to hear from participants their main challenges in relation to security governance "and how you respond to them given your existing resources.

"The focus of this conference is to support states and societies in developing effective, inclusive and accountable security institutions so as to contribute to international peace and security, sustainable development and the enjoyment of human rights by all."

The conference is the first of its kind in the Pacific Region, and according to Jean-Luc Stalon, the Senior Regional Crisis Prevention and Recovery Advisor/manager, at the UNDP Pacific Centre, the decision to embark on this project to support the capacity development of governance institutions to oversee and manage the security sector in the Pacific was guided by the recognition that the Pacific Plan identified security as a prerequisite for sustainable development.

Jean-Luc said that the objective of the conference was to identify the priority needs and the capacity gaps where UNDP Pacific Centre in partnership with international and regional organizations could provide common regional technical assistance, policy advisory or capacity building support improvements in the management and oversight of the security sector.



Jean-Luc said that a report of the deliberation of the conference would be presented to the Pacific Islands Forum meeting in June.

Jean-Luc co-chairs the conference with Rick Nimmo, Director, Political Governance and Security Programme, Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat.

The topics to be covered during the three days of deliberation include Security Sector Governance: Global and Pacific, Regional Security Co-operation and Integration, and Security Sector Governance and Cooperation in the Pacific - Status and needs.

The official opening of the conference was delayed for two hours because the Air Pacific cancelled its late morning flight to Tonga on Monday. The flight with the Ministers of Defence for Fiji and Papua New Guinea and their delegation finally arrived at 9 am Tuesday.