PIFS-CSO Dialogue on Security Issues

16th November 2010
The third Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat – Civil Society Organisations’ Dialogue on peace, conflict and security issues will be held on 17 November 2010 at the Forum Secretariat in Suva, Fiji.

The PIFS-CSO Dialogue is the mechanism endorsed by the Forum Regional Security Committee to provide a structured approach for civil society to engage with the Forum Secretariat on peace, conflict and security issues.

Civil society and faith based organisations play an important role in national development, either through the provision of services, or through bottom-up research and advocacy to influence governmental policy agendas and formulation. The Pacific Plan, which provides the overarching mandate for the Forum Secretariat and other agencies of the Council of Regional Organisations of the Pacific (CROP), recognises the importance of involving non state actors in achieving its goals of enhancing and stimulating economic growth, sustainable development, good governance and security.

Forum Secretary General Tuiloma Neroni Slade warmly welcomed this third meeting of the Dialogue and acknowledged that “civil society organisations are key stakeholders in all development efforts and contribute to ensuring consultative and participatory policy-making. The Forum Secretariat therefore highly values this Dialogue, as it also provides the opportunity for CSOs to raise concerns with the Forum and to provide input into policy making through Forum processes, including the Forum Regional Security Committee”.

The PIFS-CSO Dialogue is held twice a year. Past sessions were held on 20 November 2009 and 16 April 2010 respectively.

ENDS

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