By Elilai Rengiil
Honiara, Solomon Islands— Non-governmental Organizations (NGO’s) are calling on Pacific Leaders to include Human rights and Self Determination as standing agenda issues for future Pacific Island Leaders Forum (PIFLM) meetings.
In a side event during the 54th PIFLM, hosted by Pacific Association of NGO’s (PANGO) and Solomon Island National University (SINU), titled “Our Right to Decide: Peace-First Pathways to a Self-Determined Pacific, French Polynesia President Moetai Brotherson echoed panel sentiments on urging Forum leaders to prioritize Human Rights and Self-Determination.
President Brotherson was joined on the event’s panel by Kanak activist Roselyne Canganu Makalu, Pacific Conference of Churches (PCC) General Secretary Reverend James Bhagwan, West Papua activist Rosa Moiwend, and Kingdom of Hawaii Minister of Foreign Affairs Leon Kaulahao Siu.
Attendees were immersed in storytelling, tok stori, with panelists highlighting how colonialism has shaped and connected the experiences of communities across the Pacific.
Through language loss, land grabs, loss of cultural heritage and identity, shared nuclear legacies, and ongoing militarization; the panelists told of their history, survival, and the distinct yet common struggles most Pacific people share.
Rising geopolitical tensions between the United States and the People’s Republic of China have placed the Pacific region at the center of their rivalry. Both powers are seeking to expand their influence by negotiating infrastructure and security agreements with Pacific nations, each aiming to strengthen their strategic presence in the region.
“For too long, the Pacific has been seen as a theatre for outside powers. Rather than the home of peoples who have a right to charter their own destiny,” said President Brotherson.
Reverend James Bhagwan notes that these issues around self-determination, sovereignty and peace should be addressed by Pacific leaders as a standing agenda issue, Human Rights and Self-Determination at each annual Forum.
“Peace is an iron fist in a velvet glove. I want us to think about this when we talk about the concept of peace in the nature of the Indo-Pacific geopolitical situation we are facing at the moment,” emphasized Reverend Bhagwan.
Civil society advocates are intensifying their calls for Human Rights and Self-Determination to become core agenda items at the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting.
They urge Pacific leaders to prioritize genuine peace by listening to their communities most affected by nuclear legacies, militarization, and enduring colonization and to take meaningful action in response.