United Nations Welcome to the United Nations. It's your world.

ECOSOC High Level Political Forum 10 July 2019 Small Islands Developing States (SIDS) session on Empowering People and Ensuring Inclusiveness and Equality

Date: 
Wednesday, 10 July 2019

            On Wednesday 10th July 2019, the Deputy Prime Minister of the Independent State of Samoa, Honorable Fiame Naomi Mataafa delivered the key note address during the “Small Islands Developing States (SIDS) session on Empowering People and Ensuring Inclusiveness and Equality: Perspective of SIDS including main findings from mid-term review of the SAMOA Pathway” at the High Level Political Forum (HLPF) under the auspices of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) in New York.

             Honorable Fiame emphasized the importance of the SAMOA Pathway as the blueprint for sustainable development for SIDS since its adoption in 2014 and anticipates a strong political declaration to be adopted during the mid-term review of the SAMOA Pathway in September 2019 during the 74th session of the United Nations General Assembly. Five years ago the SAMOA Pathway shaped the 2030 Agenda and secured three key goals that were important to SIDS – SDG 13 on Climate Action, SDG 14 on Oceans management and SDG 17 on Partnerships and means of implementation. It illustrates the collective voice of SIDS and their leadership in global affairs.

            The keynote address highlighted the Pacific’s implementation efforts, challenges and proposed ways forward in the context of the HLPF’s theme of empowerment, inclusivity and equality. This HLPF session as extremely important for the PIF as six of its members presented their VNRs. These are, Fiji, Nauru, New Zealand, Palau Tonga and Vanuatu.