Pacific Civil Society Forum to be launched during 53rd Leaders Meeting

The Pacific Civil Society Forum will host the Pacific Peoples Forum during the 53rd Pacific Islands Forum Leaders’ Meeting from August 26 to 30 under the theme ‘Pikipiki Hama Kae Vaevae Manava.’ The theme aligns with the Pacific Islands Forum’s wider focus ‘A Transformative Resilient Pacific: Building Better Now’, emphasising solidarity and shared responsibility to overcome challenges.

The Pacific Peoples CSO Village is the home of the Pacific Peoples Forum, organised by the Civil Society Forum of Tonga (CSFT) and will be open to the public at the Maamaloa Field in Nuku’alofa.

Rooted in the traditions of Tongan seafarers, “Pikipiki Hama Kae Vaevae Manava” embodies the values ​​of solidarity and collaboration, which are the guiding principles of the Pacific Peoples Forum. The gathering aims to explore “transformative resilience” from a grassroots, people-centred perspective, providing a platform for civil society organisations (CSOs) to exchange ideas and strategies for a more resilient Pacific.

“We created this space to engage the public in dialogue because it’s not just the government that can solve the pressing issues of the day,” said Siale Ilolahi of the Pacific Islands Association of Non-Governmental Organizations (PIANGO), which was founded in 1991 to amplify the voices of non-governmental organizations in the Pacific.

“We only have about an hour to speak to Pacific leaders during the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders’ Meeting, so the Pacific Peoples Village will be a place to continue the conversation, especially to engage the public,” Ilolahee said.

A key event is the Debt Symposium on August 22 at Moulton Hall, which will bring together experts to discuss the impact of Tonga’s public debt on the economy, the environment and future generations.

The forum, which brought together representatives from 24 Pacific countries, provided an important space for civil society organizations to engage in dialogue on pressing issues such as Tonga’s debt sustainability. Deep sea miningyouth and marine conservation.

The forum will also discuss public financial management and its application in building resilience in Tonga. Utopiaa traditional Fijian sailing canoe, highlights the importance of the ocean to the people of the Pacific and their cultural heritage.

As the Pacific Civil Society Forum gets underway, it promises to be a powerful catalyst for collective action, aligned with the region’s 2050 strategy, to promote sustainable development across the Pacific Islands.