Remarks delivered by H.E. Mr. Samuelu Laloniu, Pacific Islands Forum Chair and Permanent Representative of Tuvalu. 

Greetings,  

I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the 14 Member States of the Pacific Islands Forum with presence here at the United Nations, namely; Australia, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, New Zealand, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Republic of Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Vanuatu and my own country, Tuvalu.   

Written by Dame Meg Taylor                                                                                                                                                      

Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum

17 April 2020

In the Pacific we aspire to endurance and sustainability. But progress is difficult to sustain when we face multiple threats that reverse decades of development gains in a matter of hours or days.

Answering the UN Secretary-General’s Call on Gender-Based Violence and COVID-19
Statement by 124 UN Member States and Observers - 8 April 2020

"We strongly support the appeal by United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres on Gender-Based Violence and COVID-19.

As more countries report infection and lockdown, domestic violence helplines and shelters across the world are reporting rising calls for help. Victims and survivors have no means of escape when violence occurs in the place they are being told to take shelter: at home.

Funafuti, Tuvalu: The outcome of the recent climate negotiations at COP 25 in Madrid, Spain was utterly disappointing, the Chair of the Pacific Islands Forum, Prime Minister of Tuvalu, Hon Kausea Natano, said today.

“The lack of ambition and urgency on climate action emanating from COP 25 is very concerning, particularly for those of us Small Islands Nations on the front lines of the climate crisis that is confronting us now.”