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29 June 2022<\/strong><\/p>\n Excellencies,<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Ladies and gentlemen,<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n As we speak, the health of our ocean is in serious jeopardy. It is getting warmer and becoming more acidic; sea-levels continues to rise; and pollution, especially plastic-pollution, continues to proliferate within its ecosystems. Cumulatively, these changes are drastically limiting the planet\u2019s ability to sustain life not only underwater, but also on land.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n These facts should rightly alarm us, and we cannot shirk our responsibility to do much more to preserve the health of our ocean.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n At the same time, we do have cause to celebrate. This year we celebrate the 40<\/span>th<\/span> anniversary of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. In doing so, we reaffirm our global commitment to international norms and values that bind us together with the ocean. As part of this, we have agreed to start work on an agreement to tackle plastic pollution.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n And, here we are, all gathered in Lisbon, celebrating our progress, and evaluating our future actions on SDG14 on conserving and sustainably using the ocean, seas and marine resources for sustainable development .\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Excellencies,\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Together, oceans, seas, and coastal areas, form an essential component of the earth\u2019s ecosystem. Oceans cover 70 percent of the earth\u2019s surface. It is the planet\u2019s largest biosphere and home to up to 80 percent of all life in the world.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Its sheer scale, and the innumerable resources contained within it, also means that the ocean has a profound influence on our economies and livelihoods. The annual contribution of ocean based economic activities numbers in the trillions in terms of US dollars; this in turns provides millions of people with direct or indirect employment.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The ocean is especially vital to the economies and sustenance of SIDS, and to the advancement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.\u00a0 This is evident when we consider that Small Island Developing States are perhaps more accurately described as Large Ocean States, in light of the fact that they are custodians of immense ocean areas \u2013 which are cumulatively up to 20.7 times larger than their land mass.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Excellencies,\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Today\u2019s event on \u201c<\/span>Leveraging South-South and triangular cooperation to advance the Blue Economy Agenda in SIDS\u201d <\/span><\/b>is both timely and relevant, as we reflect on how Small Island Developing States can best utilize resources for ocean-related opportunities.\u00a0 And on how SIDS can leverage partnerships \u2013 whether they are through south-south cooperation, or triangular cooperation \u2013 to reverse the decline in ocean health.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The event will define key areas of science-led ocean action, driving governments and other key decision-makers to do more and deliver on their commitments. And we will also discuss how these actions can be better facilitated, to deliver practical, realistic, cost effective, and scalable solutions.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Dear friends,\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n In light of the special relationship between SIDS and the ocean, and especially concerning the special case of SIDS for sustainable development, they need genuine and durable partnerships.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n And these partnerships must be SMART. That is, they must be:\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Partnerships must be developed together with, and in consultation with SIDS governments and communities, taking full use of local knowledge, while also enhancing capacities at the local level.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n These are the values on which, partnerships must be built and enhanced.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n My dear friends,<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The best solution at our disposal, is to build strategic partnerships, that harness the expertise and energy of all stakeholders. That leverages our collective knowledge and capacity. That strengthens and builds on existing\u00a0\u00a0 cooperation.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Through such partnerships, and through mobilizing the required political will, we can protect and preserve our oceans. We can build blue economies. And we can build more resilient and prosperous communities.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n I commend the UN Office for South-South Cooperation for their continued assistance and partnership with SIDS.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n I am certain that it will add value to future cooperation on providing support for SIDS, especially in their efforts to advance work relevant to Sustainable Development Goal 14.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n I thank you.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Lisbon, Portugal (Virtual)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":361,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":" Excellencies, colleagues,<\/p> I welcome you all to our second meeting and our first interaction following the resumed part of the session.<\/p> Before I begin, I would like to recognize the loss of our dear friend and esteemed colleague, Ms. Gail Farngalo.<\/p> A Liberian national, Gail was my Team Leader for Human Rights and was active on gender during both the 75th<\/sup> and 76th<\/sup> sessions. She leaves behind a legacy of achievements and a groundswell of respect and affection from across the UN and diplomatic communities. Her presence is certainly felt here today.<\/p> Colleagues,<\/p> When I took on this Presidency of Hope, I pledged to make gender equality a priority area for the 76th<\/sup> session. I continue to look to the board for its wisdom and expertise, as I endeavour to fulfil that pledge.<\/p> In this regard, I have already benefited from the board\u2019s advice, from when we met on October 28th<\/sup> last year.<\/p> Acting on that advice, I committed to ensuring that all my five rays of hope, and all my major initiatives, are approached with a gender lens.<\/p> I made sure that the composition of my office is gender-balanced.<\/p> I have committed to participating only in panels that have equal gender representation.<\/p> Throughout my official interactions and travels, I have endeavoured to meet with women, including heads of states and governments, scientists, civil society representatives, and youth.<\/p> And I am proud to inform you that five young women have been recruited into the Fellowship for HOPE<\/em> that my office recently launched. The Fellowship as you are well aware is targeted at benefiting young diplomats from underrepresented countries, pursuing careers in diplomacy or public service.<\/p> Colleagues,<\/p> While recognizing that we have a long way to go in the battle for gender-equality, I am proud of what my team has been able to accomplish within the past few months.<\/p> Our work continues.<\/p> We will continue to raise our voices on issues disproportionately impacting women, such as domestic violence and work place harassment. We will continue to push the importance of gender-equal work spaces.<\/p> And we will continue to find new paths to empower young women with ambitious professional aspirations.<\/p> Now is not the time to rest on our laurels.<\/p> With the board\u2019s guidance and support, we must use the many opportunities over the coming months to further empower women and girls, and dismantle discriminatory practices against them.<\/p> There are several upcoming events that will provide us such opportunities. I look forward to the board\u2019s suggestions on how we can best utilize them.<\/p> As an example, the International Day of Women and Girls in science is fast approaching. We must recognize that women\u2019s contributions in science and technology have helped us cure diseases; discover new horizons in space; and develop technologies that have vastly improved our quality of life.<\/p> As we celebrate their achievements, we must also open pathways for young girls who aspire to follow in the footsteps of pioneers in science and technology.<\/p> Colleagues,<\/p> Let us also reflect that the theme chosen by the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women for this year is on \u201cachieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls in the context of climate change, environmental and disaster risk reduction policies and programmes\u201d.<\/p> As we strive to meet our obligations to the planet, let us recognize the important work done by women and girls at the forefront of the climate crisis, and whose humanitarian work in disaster-stricken areas has helped save lives and rebuild communities. We owe it to them to not only celebrate their work but to support them.<\/p> Colleagues,<\/p> Our programme of work for the months ahead has been circulated to members prior to the meeting, for consideration and feedback. Please note that the events we have planned are not exhaustive. I welcome further suggestions from the board on the content and format of future events and activities.<\/p> Colleagues,<\/p> We have made much progress within a short while. And with the board\u2019s support and guidance, I am sure that we can keep up this strong momentum.<\/p> I look forward to working alongside all of you to achieve our vision of a gender-equal world.<\/p> Thank you.<\/p>","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[111],"tags":[550,556,553],"committee-meeting":[],"class_list":["post-268595","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-speeches","tag-ga","tag-pga","tag-shahid","et-doesnt-have-format-content","et_post_format-et-post-format-standard"],"yoast_head":"\n\n
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