PACIFIC ISLANDS FORUM
REGIONAL CONFERENCE ON PRESERVING STATEHOOD AND PROTECTING PERSONS: LEGAL OPTIONS & INSTITUTIONAL RESPONSES TO THE IMPACTS OF SEA-LEVEL RISE, IN THE CONTEXT OF INTERNATIONAL LAW
27 – 30 March 2023
Nadi, Fiji
OPENING REMARKS BY THE HONOURABLE MARK BROWN, PRIME MINISTER OF THE COOK ISLANDS AND CHAIR OF THE PACIFIC ISLANDS FORUM
27 March 2023
The Honourable Simon Kofe, Minister for Justice, Communication and Foreign Affairs of Tuvalu,
Forum Secretary General, my good friend, Henry Puna,
Distinguished guest and panellists,
Excellencies and Senior Officials,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Kia Orana and warm greetings from the Cook Islands. It is my pleasure to join you all for the opening of this Regional Conference on Statehood and the Protection of Persons affected by Sea-level rise.
2. I am unable to join in person today due to unavoidable commitments, but I am very pleased to be part of this opening session virtually. I am also encouraged by the high level of attendance from all Forum governments, testament to the significance of these issues for all of our nations.
3. Let me also extend a special welcome to our distinguished guests who have travelled from afar to support our efforts this week. Thank you for making the time for us, and I encourage you to also make time to enjoy the world-class hospitality of our Fijian family.
4. Let me also recognise the important leadership of the Government of Fiji, as well as the Government of Tuvalu, in spearheading this matter these past few years. Thank you also to Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Community, for the generous funding assistance that has made this Conference possible. And to the Specialist Sub-Committee for designing this Conference to ensure that it meets our needs and expectations.
5. Excellencies and Officials, it was only four weeks ago that I was in Denarau with my colleague Leaders for our Special Leaders Retreat. There, we reaffirmed our shared commitment to – and stewardship of – our Blue Pacific Continent, through collective responsibility, commitment and investment in our ocean and lands.
6. Further, we reaffirmed the value of our Pacific Way, recognising the depth and uniqueness of our cultural and traditional diversities, and celebrating our kinship and historical ties, which underpin the solidarity of our Forum Family.
7. Indeed, these are the very values and commitments that bring us here today. Our stewardship, our vison, our development aspirations; climate change-related sea-level rise threatens the future of our people and the statehood of many Pacific nations.
8. As our shorelines are eaten away by sea-level rise, what will become of our sovereignty, of our lands, our titles, our homes? What will become of our fundamental rights and freedoms guaranteed by our Constitutions and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights? How can we realise our shared Vision when our very status as “states” are being questioned? How can we fulfil our responsibility to our peoples if their homes and livelihoods are taken away from them?
9. These questions are difficult but real. They require solutions.
10. We are at a new frontier and the world once again looks to us to steer the way despite the problem and injustices being caused by others.
11. This is our lived reality. This is our “climate emergency”.
12. Our work this week will unpack and ultimately establish a pathway to develop Forum positions on these complex issues. This is no easy feat.
13. Just last year, Leaders noted the complexity of these issues, and that due consideration should be guided and informed by applicable principles and norms of international law and relevant international frameworks and standards.
14. However, we must be encouraged because today we have at our disposal a very important benchmark, the Pacific-led ground-breaking Declaration on Preserving Maritime Zones in the face of Climate change-related Sea-level rise.
15. In fact, the Declaration is an excellent starting point for this Conference. We must continue to be meticulous, deliberate and patient in order to bring about real progressive development of international law. We must also continue to enhance our active engagement with key bodies such as the International Law Commission and International Law Association.
16. With the invaluable guidance you will receive from experts this week, I strongly encourage constructive discussions and debates with a view to agreeing to a strategic direction for legal options and institutional responses to these issues.
17. Further, we must continue to leverage geopolitical interests and opportunities to advocate for and secure our legal rights and entitlements into perpetuity. Now, more than ever, our identity and advocacy are absolutely vital.
18. So, I leave you with this challenge – whether you are here as an expert or completely new to these discussions – you are at the forefront of ground-breaking work that will influence a legacy for our children and future generations into perpetuity.
19. Let us draw inspiration from our unique and collective strength as the Forum Family and work side by side to navigate these new frontiers.
20. Chair, Excellencies and Senior Officials, I wish you well in your deliberations and look forward to the outcomes.
I thank you. Meitaki ma’ata, kia manuia.--ENDS
CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY
