This video is part of series that explores the establishment and work of Samoa’s national human rights institution. The UK-funded Pacific Commonwealth Equality Project - implemented by SPC’s Regional Rights Resource Team (RRRT) - aims to promote the establishment and strengthening of national human rights institutions in the Pacific. #PacificValuesAndHumanRights
This video is part of series that explores the establishment and work of Samoa’s national human rights institution. The UK-funded Pacific Commonwealth Equality Project - implemented by SPC’s Regional Rights Resource Team (RRRT) - aims to promote the establishment and strengthening of national human rights institutions in the Pacific. #PacificValuesAndHumanRights
The UK-funded Pacific Commonwealth Equality Project implemented by SPC’s Regional Rights Resource Team (RRRT) aims to increase understanding of the links between Pacific cultural values, faiths and human rights. The ‘vox-pop’s series is a platform for people across the region to explain what human rights mean to them within their national context and how they link to values and faith. #PacificValuesAndHumanRights
Nukua’lofa (Tonga) – Members of Parliament (MPs) from Tonga’s Legislative Assembly participated in a half day dialogue on human rights and the Denarau Declaration last year where they reaffirmed the importance of understanding human rights and good governance to meet parliamentary obligations.
The event was an opportunity for constructive dialogue, not only on substantive topics such as human rights in the context of climate change, Tongan cultures and faiths, but also on exploring ways to strengthen the national human rights mechanisms, especially through the establishment of National Human Rights Institutions.
As part of his opening remarks at the event, Tonga’s Speaker of the House, Lord Fakafanua highlighted the important role played by parliamentarians and leaders in the realisation of human rights standards as it applies to the context of Tonga.
“Today, we can reflect upon and appreciate human rights, some of which is embedded into our constitution since 1875 by our visionary leaders and which we as leaders and lawmakers of the present have continued to inherit and play an important role of defending human rights of all our people. Together with the support of our own traditional values, and our culture, we can all agree that these human rights will continue to be a cornerstone,” Lord Fakafanua said.
He added that the dialogue was an important opportunity to revisit the commitment made by the Tonga MPs as signatories to the Denarau Declaration.
“As parliamentarians and members of the (Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade), we are often looked upon for our roles in human rights, given our powers to oversee the executive roles in enacting laws, deliberate on our budgets and voice the needs of our constituents, we play critical roles in laying the foundation in fostering an environment that protects our communities, our families, children and anything threatens their human rights,” Lord Fakafanua noted.
Lord Fakafanua stated that the dialogue is of great benefit for the members of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade as they are tasked with the pivotal oversight and role of considering and reporting on matters relating to human rights obligations, international treaties and conventions and required economic policies.
He added that having a standing committee with a specific mandate attests to Tonga’s commitment to promoting human rights and the Legislative Assembly of Tonga will rely heavily on the advice of this committee to enlighten and drive the deliberations in parliament by applying this to human rights matters and just about any matter discussed in the parliament of Tonga.
According to Honourable Saia Piukala, Chair of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade, the human rights dialogue helped in learning about the importance of exhausting different human rights mechanisms to protect human rights in the context of Tonga.
“I also learnt that we can adopt and contextualise conventions and treaties to suit each of our respective cultures and traditions,” he added.
Hon. Piukala highlighted that “contextualised approaches is very crucial to our roles in Parliament because it will strategize our approach in terms of working with the executives in the future to rectify international conventions and treaties.”
Another MP highlighted that the dialogue was useful as these types of conversations are important for the region and for leaders to have in order to ensure human rights for all people.
She added that the dialogue brought out a recognition for the need to engage parliamentarians in consultations through other forums and to create more awareness of issues relevant to the implementation of human rights in the Tonga context through legislation.
She also noted that all policies in Tonga should reflect human rights and this is something she will ensure is engrained in the work she does from now onwards as part of the standing committee.
The Dialogue, conducted on 16 July 2021, was organised by the Pacific Community’s (SPC) Human Rights and Social Development Division and supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) through the generous support of the American people, with programme funding from the governments of Australia and Sweden.
The event was attended by 11 participants from Tonga’s Legislative Assembly and the Members of the Parliamentary Standing committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence & Trade including the Honorable Rev Dr Pohiva Tu’i’onetoa, Prime Minister & Minister for Foreign Affairs, Lord Fakafanua, Speaker of the House and Honorable Saia Piukala, the Chair of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade.
Dr Stuart Minchin, SPC’s Director General, who officially opened the dialogue highlighted that “Human rights do not exist in isolation and come with responsibilities, in the same way that feveitokai’aki requires mutual respect within Tongan society. Far from being a concept born out of Europe, many of the values of modern-day human rights can be found in our Pacific histories and the values by which we have always lived our everyday lives.”
He added that many people fear that human rights are contrary to and even undermine our Pacific cultures, however at SPC, we believe the opposite to be true.
“We believe that human rights, Pacific culture and faith are complementary and mutually reinforcing … we believe that by strengthening one we inherently strengthen the other, ” Dr Minchin said.
-ENDS
Useful links:
Speech by Dr Stuart Minchin, Director General, SPC at the opening of the Tonga MPs Dialogue on Human Rights, Good Governance and Denarau Declaration: Remarks by SPC DG, Dr Stuart Minchin at the Human Rights & Members of Parliament session - Tonga | The Pacific Community
Media contact:
Kalpana Prasad-Nizarat, Communications Officer, HRSD, Pacific Community (SPC) | email: [email protected]
A new project aimed at increasing capacity and sustainability of cultural and creative industry initiatives in national economies has been recently launched by the African Caribbean Pacific (ACP) – European Union Programme.
The Project titled “Enhancing capacity for the sustainability of Cultural and Creative Industries in the Pacific”(Pacific CCI) is a 3-year project providing financial support, technical advice, mentoring and capacity building support to artists and cultural producers from the Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Republic of Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Timor Leste, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.
The project is implemented by the Pacific Community (SPC) in partnership with the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) with financial contribution of the EU and support of the Secretariat of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States.
As part of the first phase of the project, an open call for expressions of interest (EOI) was made on June 12 for creatives, artists, cultural producers, local businesses, national culture and art agencies and institutions from the ACP-Pacific region.
According to Dr Frances Vaka’uta, Team Leader Culture for Development from SPC’s Human Rights and Social Development (HRSD) Division, the Pacific CCI project seeks to increase the contribution and recognition of the culture and creative sector to economic revenue and commercial engagement in the region through a grant scheme.
“This project recognises that Pacific arts and culture are unique and can make a significant contribution to national economies while developing sustainably to safeguard cultural practices and traditions for future generations and supporting creative innovation” Frances Vaka’uta said.
“So far we have received more than 400 submissions following Phase 1 of the EOI process (which closed on 11 July) from 15 targeted countries including Timor Leste,” she noted.
Frances Vaka’uta also explained that the first set of grantees will be selected specifically based on the grant scheme priorities such as the creation of high-quality goods and services; improved access to national, regional and international markets; increased visual literacy education and improved access to sustainable financing and reduction in dependency on international financing arrangements.
She added that shortlisted applicants from the EOI process will be taken through information sharing sessions and a grant writing workshop before they submit their formal proposals for the grant scheme.
Associate Professor Verena Thomas, Team Leader of the collaborating team from Queensland University of Technology said that:
"This project is an opportunity to recognise the creative and cultural industries as key drivers for sustainable economies across the Pacific, to create stronger networks and to communicate the creative and cultural knowledge of the Pacific to the world. We are excited about working closely with artists, creative enterprises and institutions to explore our connections, share our experiences and learn from each other."
For more information on the Project, please visit here.
Kalpana Nizarat, Communications and Visibility Officer, SPC HRSD | E: [email protected]
Joint Release
