PORT MORESBY STATEMENT
OF THE
Sixth Pacific Civil Society Forum Meeting
October 21st - 24th, 2005
PORT MORESBY, PAPUA NEW GUINEA
THE PACIFIC PLAN
PREAMBLE
WE, the representatives of national and regional civil society organizations from the Pacific, who met in Port Moresby
from the 21st to the 24th of October 2005, thank the Forum Leaders for the opportunity to contribute to their
discussions at the 36th Pacific Islands Forum Summit.
WE appreciate the hard work that has gone into the preparation of the Final Draft document. We have some suggested
changes and additions.
INTRODUCTION
SLOW DOWN ALL FURTHER WORK ON THE PACIFIC PLAN UNTIL THE FOLLOWING ACTIONS ARE PUT IN PLACE:
• More consultation with stakeholders at all levels;
• CSO representatives are included in all stages of the process, including the Pacific Plan Action Committee, and
any review procedures.
ECONOMIC GROWTH
1. Economic growth initiatives in the Pacific Plan are not closely linked to social and environmental aims and should be
subject to evidence-based objectives for:
• poverty reduction;
• environmental sustainability;
• maintenance of cultural diversity.
2. Fair distribution of resources: Civil society should be involved in the preparation of each government’s Annual
Budget and will set up a monitoring process to follow delivery of services with strict guidelines and policies.
Trade (Strategic Objective 1)
3. We reiterate the appeal in the Apia Statement for a freeze on further commitments through free trade negotiations,
further accession to the WTO, and the development of EPA-WTO compatible arrangements by Pacific ACP countries, until
there has been transparent assessment of the actual and potential impacts of PICTA and PACER on PICs and local
communities, full consultation and public understanding.
4. We reject the inclusion of PACER since it has not been triggered, and we reject its extension to include services.
5. (Strategic Objective14) Remove any reference in the Pacific Plan to a comprehensive framework for trade (including
services) and economic co-operation.
6. (Strategic Objective1.2) The issue of labour mobility needs more analysis of its benefits and negative effects on
PICs. There must be agreements between PICs, Australia and New Zealand governments and union movements in order to
protect workers rights; Australia and New Zealand should offer labour mobility without requiring PICs to negotiate a
services agreement.
7. (Strategic Objective 2.2) A gender inclusive and community-based approach must be brought to the digital strategy to
ensure appropriate and accessible use of ICTs.
8. Australia and New Zealand must both meet international obligations to set tight timetables to allocate 0.7 percent of
GNI (Gross National Income) to overseas aid, targeted mainly to the Pacific.
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
9. (Strategic Objective 4) All Pacific Plan initiatives should be linked to the MDGs and national, regional and
international poverty-related commitments.
Environment
10. (Strategic Objective 5)
• Add 5.6: “All sustainable development strategies must be developed and implemented with CSO participation”;
• Economic considerations and development must be based on sound environmental policies that can be monitored and
enforced effectively with adequate funding;
• We urge Australia and New Zealand to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and Australia to ratify the Kyoto
Protocol.
11. (Strategic Objective 6) The Pacific Regional Strategic Implementation Plan on HIV/AIDS must:
• Stress the need for greater national political will to address all issues including cultural practices, that
lead to HIV/AIDS;
• Revive the cultural approach to the care of people living with HIV/AIDS to deal with the stigma;
• Provide NGOs and CBOs with appropriate resources for HIV/AIDS-related activities;
• Address specific needs of West Papua;
• Support national campaigns of HIV/AIDS awareness in culturally appropriate mediums and a variety of forms, e.g.
drama, video, etc;
• Ensure that national HIV/AIDS coordinating mechanisms conduct themselves in an inclusive and transparent
manner.
Education
12. (Strategic Objective 7)
• (Strategic Objective 7.3) These studies and scholarships should be allocated by Pacific Island selection panels
including CS representation;
• The Forum is urged to negotiate with the French government to recognise all qualifications gained from the
Pacific education institutions;
• A mechanism for the standardisation of quality teacher training across all PICs should be put in place in the
Pacific Plan
Gender Equality
13. (Strategic Objective 8)
• There should be gender mainstreaming across all sectors of the Plan, in line with the MDGs and all relevant
international and regional gender equality conventions and commitments;
• Pacific governments must be assisted to fulfill these commitments, including Women’s National Plans of Action;
in particular increasing the numbers of women in decision-making up to the Parliamentary level.
Youth
14. (Strategic Objective 9)
• The Plan should include National and regional quality job creation strategies for young people, including
opportunities in rural areas;
• Countries must develop and enforce legislation to prevent sexual exploitation of children and youth.
Culture
15. (Strategic Objective 11)
• The capacity of Pacific universities should be increased to incorporate courses on cultural and traditional
knowledge, including languages. Scholarships should be made available for these courses;
• National legislation must be developed to protect indigenous knowledge, genetic materials, indigenous
intellectual and customary property rights and languages. Funding must be made available for research in these areas.
16. Disability
• Activities of the Biwako Millennium Framework towards an inclusive barrier- free, rights based society for
people with disabilities must be implemented and the drafting process of the United Nations Disability Convention should
be supported (from Apia statement).
• Traditional, social and cultural safety nets must be developed as part of the Pacific Islands Forum planning
process;
GOOD GOVERNANCE
17. All Forum member countries must set up a mechanism to monitor all human rights instruments including labour rights
and to promote the ratification of those that have not been considered, working in liaison with civil society
organisations and governments and ensuring that funding is available.
18. Special measures must be introduced to prevent all forms of violence against children including ratification of the
Optional Protocol to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Child.
19. Australia and New Zealand must also be held accountable for any lapses in good governance.
20. All good governance initiatives should recognise the vital role of an independent media and active role of civil
society in promoting good governance and holding governments to account.
SECURITY
21. In recognition of the economic, human security and environmental threats to peace in the region, we urge that the
Plan takes all of these factors into account in a regional security plan;
22. (Strategic Objective 13.2) United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325, Women, Peace and Security, must be
incorporated into regional security policy;
23. We urge the Forum to set a definite time frame for the withdrawal of RAMSI;
24. We urge all Forum members to support the negotiation of a UN Arms Trade Treaty, particularly to control the trade in
small arms. (refer Apia Statement)
Self-Determination
This Plan is incomplete without addressing issues of self-determination.
25. The Forum is asked to:
• Urge that the UN revisit the 1962 New York agreement on West Papua and the 1969 UN-endorsed “Act of Free
Choice”;
• Grant West Papua official observer status in the Melanesian Spearhead Group meetings and Forum meetings in line
with the recommendations of the 2004 Auckland Declaration;
• Lobby to have West Papua as well as Rapa Nui, Tahiti Nui and Hawaii, re-inscribed on the UN Decolonisation list
(refer Apia Statement).
26. We call on Australia to negotiate a fair maritime agreement with Timor-Leste based on a median line (refer Apia
Statement).
IMPLEMENTATION
27. Civil society organisations must be involved in the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the Pacific Plan at
the regional and national level. Funding must be made available for these processes;
28. We call on all Forum governments to submit the Pacific Plan, when agreed, for Parliamentary ratification, allowing
adequate time for consultation and debate.
24th October 2005
ENDS