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Mauritius International Meeting

Posted: Tuesday January 11, 2005 2:53 PM EST

By UNESCO Press Release

Mauritius International Meeting on Small Island Developing States Opens

Port Louis, January 10 – A minute of silence to remember the victims of the recent Indian Ocean tsunami opened the inaugural session of the International Meeting to Review the Implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States here in Mauritius this morning.

‘Our heart goes out to all those who have suffered and continue to suffer and we wish to reiterate here our heartfelt sympathy and solidarity with all the countries and peoples hit by the tsunami,’ said Paul Berenger, Prime Minister of the Republic of Mauritius, in his opening speech.

More than 2,000 participants from the world’s 51 small island developing states (SIDS), their traditional partners from other countries, including some 25 heads of State and Government, are participating in the meeting which has been organized by the United Nations in collaboration with its various agencies including UNESCO. Over the next four days they will review the implementation of the SIDS programme of action agreed upon ten years ago at a Global Conference in Barbados.

‘The task for the International Meeting is a critical one for SIDS,’ said Anwarul Chowdhury, Secretary-General of the meeting and United Nations Under-Secretary-General and High Representative. ‘Despite the efforts made by small island developing states, the expectations for international support and cooperation for the implementation of the Barbados Programme have not materialized,’ he continued.’

Emerging issues such as HIV/AIDS, trade and security have further compounded the problems facing these nations made vulnerable by their size and isolation, Mr Chowdhury said. In order to make ‘meaningful headway’ he added, ‘the priorities that are set here in Mauritius must not only be realistic and achievable, but should command the full and genuine support of the international community.’

Another key issue on the agenda is the role of culture in the sustainable development of SIDS. UNESCO has organized a panel discussion on the topic to be held on the afternoon of January 11. The session will be moderated by Dame Pearlette Louisy, Governor-General of Saint Lucia and higher-education specialist.

The Organization is equally concerned that young people should be more involved in the development and decision-making processes of their island states. UNESCO has supported the participation of almost 100 young men and women from Small Island Developing States, who are taking part in a forum on ‘Youth Visioning for Island Living’ at the conference, exchanging experiences, discussing the mobilization of young people in island States and lobbying their political representatives to give them a greater voice.

Another important event on the agenda will be a session on ‘Reducing vulnerability and building resilience of SIDS, to be held on Tuesday, January 11 from 1.45 to 2.45 pm. It has been convened by the World Meteorological Organization and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, in the aftermath of the Indian Ocean tsunami.

Among the speakers for this session are Laura Kong, Director of the International Tsunami Information Centre, which is key part of the tsunami early warning system for the Pacific initiated by UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC), and Bill Erb, the head of the IOC’s office in Australia. Both speakers will focus on the recent tsunami. Dr Kong will look at lessons for the future, while Dr Erb will discuss the Perspectives for a Global Tsunami Warning System.

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