Latest news with #PacificCommunity
Perth Now
28-05-2025
- Perth Now
Holistic approach needed to overcome family violence
Approaches to domestic and family violence must include the entire community, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander advocates and experts say. First Nations communities have the solutions to address family violence, Queensland Indigenous Family Violence Legal Service chief executive Wynetta Dewis told AAP. "We hear the challenges around government funding, or working in a colonised system and the structural, systemic issues," the Torres Strait Islander woman said. "We're trying to empower the Aboriginal community controlled organisations and the people working within them that you can still lead change within your own agencies to take that power and move forward." Indigenous ways of knowing must be at the heart of addressing family violence for Mereseini Rakuita, strategic lead for Pacific Community Teretia Tokam. An Indigenous Fijian woman, Ms Rakuita told a forum two in three women in her region have experienced sexual or physical violence. But there are a number of initiatives there working to address violence against women and girls, she said at the Overcoming Indigenous Family Violence Forum on the Gold Coast. One of these is the Pacific Women's Network Against Violence Against Women, formed by local organisations and women across the region. "The story behind this network is one of strength and resilience," she said. "A number of women sat down and said 'we've got to do something about this'. "They all had their day jobs so they started using their salaries to work towards a crisis centre, now it has become a a formalised structure, one of the most progressive and advanced crisis centres in the region." Ms Dewis said an all-of-community approach was required for addressing family violence. "Domestic and family violence intersects with child protection, even housing and health," she said. Including male behaviour-change services in the forum was important to ensure the entire community was brought along to address family violence, and the forum was receptive to the men who spoke about their programs, Ms Dewis said. One of the programs, Change Em Ways based in the Kimberley region of Western Australia, works with men to address underlying issues such as intergenerational trauma to help change their behaviour. Importantly to the program's cultural guidance worker Nelson Bieundurry, it includes on-Country camps to connect the men back to culture and traditions. "Activities include not only hunting, fishing and gathering but also include campfire discussions on the use of violence in intimate relationships, the importance of accountability and the acceptance of change," he said. 13YARN 13 92 76 Lifeline 13 11 14 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) Men's Referral Service 1300 766 491
Scoop
26-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Disease-Free Coconut Nurseries In Papua New Guinea To Support White Copra Revival And Rural Livelihoods
Press Release – Pacific Community – SPC KIK Managing Director, Mr Alan Aku said the nurseries are a direct response to the challenges facing PNGs coconut industry, especially the damage caused by Bogia Coconut Syndrome. Three new coconut nurseries commissioned in Papua New Guinea (PNG) will provide disease-free, high-yield coconut seedlings to support farmers in replanting efforts, particularly those impacted by Bogia Coconut Syndrome (BCS), as part of broader efforts to revive the country's white copra market and strengthen rural livelihoods. Located in Malala (Bogia District, Madang Province), and in Viviran (Gazelle District) and Tabuna (Kokopo District) in East New Britain Province, the nurseries are part of the broader Agri Value Chain Finance (AVCF) Facility implemented by Kokonas Indastri Koporesen (KIK) with support from the Pacific Community (SPC) and the International Trade Centre (ITC) through the ACP Business-Friendly Programme, funded by the European Union and the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS). KIK Managing Director, Mr Alan Aku said the nurseries are a direct response to the challenges facing PNG's coconut industry, especially the damage caused by Bogia Coconut Syndrome. BCS is a plant disease affecting coconut palms and other palm species and is a major concern for PNG's agriculture and food security, as coconuts are a key crop for livelihoods and exports. ' By investing in clean, resilient planting materials and working with partners on financing and market access, we are not only restoring production but empowering our farmers to move from survival to success,' said Mr Aku. At the nursery launch in East New Britain, SPC's Land Resources Division Deputy Director, Ms Florence Rahiria, emphasised the long-term value of this initiative. 'These nurseries will not only provide disease-resistant, climate-resilient planting materials, but also serve as training and demonstration hubs, offering farmers direct access to technical support and modern farming knowledge,' Ms Rahiria stated. ' This integrated approach combining production, finance, and market linkages is helping transform the coconut industry from subsistence to enterprise. On behalf of SPC, I extend heartfelt thanks to the Government of Papua New Guinea, the leadership of KIK, our partners at the National Development Bank and Coconut Resource Limited, and the resilient farmers and communities who continue to inspire us,' she said. The Malala nursery is especially significant for farmers in Bogia District, where BCS has devastated coconut plantations. In addition to providing new planting material, the nurseries are linked to partner schools and learning centres that are integrating coconut farming into their school curriculum. Teacher at Malala Catholic Agro-Technical Secondary School, Mr Barry Buga shared that the initiative is not just about coconuts. ' It is about giving our students and their families real-life tools to rebuild and thrive. We now have a living classroom where agriculture meets opportunity.' Local educator in Kokopo District, Ms Melda Pona shared, ' Having this nursery here in Tabuna creates hands-on learning for our students and a direct link between schools and community-based agriculture. It encourages youth participation in agribusiness and promotes food security for the future.' The three nurseries complement wider efforts to develop tailored financing solutions for coconut and other key value chains. Through the AVCF Facility, farmers and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) will be supported with access to finance, technical assistance, and organised market linkages. The initiative targets not only coconut producers but also stakeholders across the cocoa, coffee, and fresh produce sectors. Agri-Finance Lead at SPC, Mr Lagi Fisher said, ' This is about strengthening the full value chain, starting with the seedling and ending with export-ready white copra. It is a model that is farmer-driven, finance-enabled, and focused on lasting impact.' About the ACP Business-Friendly Programme The ACP Business-Friendly Programme is a joint initiative of the Pacific Community (SPC) and the International Trade Centre (ITC), funded by the European Union and the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS). It aims to improve the business environment for MSMEs across the Pacific through inclusive finance, infrastructure development, and strengthened value chain partnerships.
Scoop
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Pasifika Futures Forum Opens In Suva: Navigating A Bold Vision For The Blue Pacific
Press Release – UNDP Pacific Office in Fiji The broader Pasifika Futures Initiative aims to strengthen inquiry into how strategic foresight and Pacific wisdom can work together to build more equitable, resilient development partnerships. 13 May 2025 Suva, Fiji: The inaugural Pasifika Futures Forum officially opened today at the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat in Suva, bringing together over 150 Pacific Island leaders, policymakers, traditional knowledge holders, youth, disability advocates, and development partners from across the Pacific region. Hosted by the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Pacific Office in Fiji – with the generous support of the Government of Australia – the Forum will explore and shape long-term pathways for a resilient, sustainable, and inclusive Blue Pacific Continent. The Forum follows the launch of the Pasifika Futures Report, a Pacific-led foresight publication that builds on the foundations laid by the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent and the groundbreaking work undertaken by the Pacific Community (SPC). Drawing from Pacific epistemologies and contemporary foresight tools, the report highlights 10 emerging themes – from ocean governance and climate security to technological change and intergenerational decision-making. Baron Waqa, Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum, opened the event and said: 'Our Blue Pacific Continent is the ocean that connects us through our shared culture, diversity, common challenges, and unique vulnerabilities. We must be vigilant of the emerging trends and signals, as our role is to build a region that thrives in unity and resilience.' Munkhtuya Altangerel, UNDP Resident Representative for the Pacific Office in Fiji, in her opening remarks, said that the forum comes on the back of decades of work across the Pacific community: 'We stand today on the shoulders of remarkable regional leadership: the foresight of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, the pioneering tools of the Pacific Community, and the shared vision laid out in the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent. The future therefore is not something we wait for; it is something we build together.' Over the next two days, the Forum will host a series of talanoa centred on identity, agency, and adaptive leadership in the face of accelerating global change. Guided by the Pacific concept of wayfinding, the Forum will invite participants to explore how Pacific knowledge systems – grounded in interdependence and connection to place – can guide development thinking and practice in new directions. The broader Pasifika Futures Initiative aims to strengthen inquiry into how strategic foresight and Pacific wisdom can work together to build more equitable, resilient development partnerships. The Pasifika Futures Forum will be staged on 13 May at the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, and conclude on 14 May at the Grand Pacific Hotel.
Scoop
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Pasifika Futures Forum Opens In Suva: Navigating A Bold Vision For The Blue Pacific
Press Release – UNDP Pacific Office in Fiji The broader Pasifika Futures Initiative aims to strengthen inquiry into how strategic foresight and Pacific wisdom can work together to build more equitable, resilient development partnerships. 13 May 2025 Suva, Fiji: The inaugural Pasifika Futures Forum officially opened today at the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat in Suva, bringing together over 150 Pacific Island leaders, policymakers, traditional knowledge holders, youth, disability advocates, and development partners from across the Pacific region. Hosted by the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Pacific Office in Fiji – with the generous support of the Government of Australia – the Forum will explore and shape long-term pathways for a resilient, sustainable, and inclusive Blue Pacific Continent. The Forum follows the launch of the Pasifika Futures Report, a Pacific-led foresight publication that builds on the foundations laid by the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent and the groundbreaking work undertaken by the Pacific Community (SPC). Drawing from Pacific epistemologies and contemporary foresight tools, the report highlights 10 emerging themes – from ocean governance and climate security to technological change and intergenerational decision-making. Baron Waqa, Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum, opened the event and said: 'Our Blue Pacific Continent is the ocean that connects us through our shared culture, diversity, common challenges, and unique vulnerabilities. We must be vigilant of the emerging trends and signals, as our role is to build a region that thrives in unity and resilience.' Munkhtuya Altangerel, UNDP Resident Representative for the Pacific Office in Fiji, in her opening remarks, said that the forum comes on the back of decades of work across the Pacific community: 'We stand today on the shoulders of remarkable regional leadership: the foresight of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, the pioneering tools of the Pacific Community, and the shared vision laid out in the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent. The future therefore is not something we wait for; it is something we build together.' Over the next two days, the Forum will host a series of talanoa centred on identity, agency, and adaptive leadership in the face of accelerating global change. Guided by the Pacific concept of wayfinding, the Forum will invite participants to explore how Pacific knowledge systems – grounded in interdependence and connection to place – can guide development thinking and practice in new directions. The broader Pasifika Futures Initiative aims to strengthen inquiry into how strategic foresight and Pacific wisdom can work together to build more equitable, resilient development partnerships. The Pasifika Futures Forum will be staged on 13 May at the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, and conclude on 14 May at the Grand Pacific Hotel.
Scoop
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Navigating Development With Traditional Wisdom: Pasifika Futures Report Launched In Fiji
Press Release – UNDP Pacific Office in Fiji The Pasifika Futures Report builds upon the pioneering work of regional institutions such as the Pacific Community (SPC) and other CROP agencies, reaffirming the Pacific as a region of large ocean states not small island nations. Suva, Fiji: The Pasifika Futures Report has been launched in Suva at the opening of the inaugural Pasifika Futures Forum, marking a significant milestone in efforts to advance the collective ambition of the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent. The report – a partnership between the UN Development Programme (UNDP) Pacific Office in Fiji and the Pacific Islands Forum, and supported by the Government of Australia – aims to strengthen inquiry into how foresight methods can work in harmony with Pacific Island epistemologies – centering traditional knowledge systems that emphasise the need for intergenerational thinking, collective interdependence, and deep connection to place. This approach celebrates that Pacific ways of knowing are essential in shaping resilient relationships, guiding effective development partnerships, and envisioning a future where the Pacific continues to thrive on its own terms. The report brought together government officials, policy makers, academic and thematic experts alongside traditional navigators, theologists, youth, and community representatives from across the Pacific to explore a shared vision for sustainable growth, ocean governance, technological innovation, and the revitalisation of Pacific knowledge systems. Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum, Baron Waqa, on launching the report said: 'As we consider what it means to envision Pacific futures in the age of climate change, we must confront the reality of a planetary polycrisis – what many are calling the new abnormal. But let us be clear: the futures we seek are not those prescribed to us, but those we define for ourselves.' UNDP Pacific Resident Representative, Munkhtuya Altangerel, reflected on the regional symbolism of launching the report on Girmit Day, noting the importance of honouring the past while steering together toward a shared future. She said: 'The 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent outlines a shared vision: a region where all Pacific peoples can lead free, healthy, and productive lives. This report contributes to that vision; we are simply the platform, and we will treat the knowledge entrusted to us with the care and respect it deserves.' The Pasifika Futures Report builds upon the pioneering work of regional institutions such as the Pacific Community (SPC) and other CROP agencies, reaffirming the Pacific as a region of large ocean states – not small island nations. The report covers 10 key themes that are pertinent to the Pacific at present, and into the future, such as oceans governance, migration and diaspora, technology, the changing nature of statehood, youth and future generations, and deglobalisation. The launch event featured performances representing Polynesia, Melanesia, and Micronesia, alongside a creative showcase by WonderLab, offering a futuristic glimpse into the Pacific of 2050 and beyond. The Pasifika Futures Forum continues this week, providing a space for inclusive dialogue across government, community, and development partners to co-create a resilient, innovative, and unified future for the Blue Pacific Continent.
