High- level dialogue on the right to clean and healthy environment for Samoa Government Ministries.
Participants at the high-level dialogue Pacific Climate Change Centre Conference.
Photo: Government of Samoa
A high-level dialogue took place today at the Pacific Climate Change Centre at
Vailima for Government Agencies that are doing work relating to climate change on the right to
clean, healthy and sustainable environment with the theme “Advancing a human rights-based
approach to climate actions”.
The dialogue was the first of its kind hosted by the Office of the Ombudsman as the National Human
Rights Institution (NHRIs) and in collaboration with partners Ministry of Natural Resources and
Environment (MNRE), (and funded by) European Union, SPREP through the Pacific Climate Change
Centre (PCCC), and Asia Pacific Forum for National Human Rights Institutions.
Initiated from a blended learning course hosted by Asia Pacific Forum for NHRIs to strengthen the
links between NHRIs and regional intergovernmental mechanisms (IGMs) on the right to a clean,
healthy and sustainable environment and climate change. The overall purpose of the dialogue was
to raise awareness amongst relevant Government Ministries of the United Nations resolution on the
right to a clean, safe and a healthy environment, linkages between human rights and climate change
as well as share on the impact of climate change on rights and vulnerable groups. It was also a
platform to strengthen to collaboration between NHRI and leaders, government agencies, and
intergovernmental agencies in safeguarding the rights of the people of Samoa from the impacts of
climate change.
The Minister for MNRE, Afioga Hon Toesulusulu Cedric Shuster delivered keynote remarks and urged
the need to approach climate action from a human rights perspective “it is noticed that during
ongoing deliberations on climate change actions there is a lack of discussion on the impact of climate
change on human lives and how we can address climate change actions using a human rights-based
approach whether it be an activity, a policy, or negotiations regionally and internationally”. He
concluded by encouraging more collective collaborations in Samoa as such to address climate
change taking into consideration a human rights lens.
Mr Sefanaia Nawadra, Director General of SPREP thanked the Ombudsman Office as the National
Human Rights Institution and partners for collaborating with SPREP on this important initiative. We
all need to respect, promote and consider our human rights obligations when taking climate
action…climate actions cannot exist without a human rights-based view” Director General in his
remarks.
The dialogue had a lineup of speakers including UN Special Rapporteur Dr Ian Fry, Galumalemana
Ann Rasmussen of MNRE, heads of Non-Government Organizations, Audrey Lee Hang representative
of the Ombudsman Young People Working Group, Dr Mema Motusaga, CEO of MWCSD etc.
The discussions will inform an outcome statement on next steps. The dialogue will be followed by a
2-day workshop with Officer level staff of the same Ministries who were involved in the high-level
Dialogue.