Ambassador Dr. Marion Williams, Permanent Representative of Barbados to the United Nations, Ambassador Amanda Ellis, Head of Mission and Permanent Representative of New Zealand to the United Nations and Ambassador Iruthisham Adam, Permanent Representative of Maldives to the United Nations.
By IOM Editors
To raise the voice of Small Island Developing States (SIDS), four countries are leading the efforts within the Geneva diplomatic community, acting as the co-chairs of an Informal Working Group for SIDS: Barbados, Maldives, New Zealand and Singapore.
We had the pleasure and the honour to meet with three of the four Ambassadors who spoke on behalf of the group: Her Excellency Ambassador Dr. Marion Williams, Permanent Representative of Barbados to the United Nations, Her Excellency Ambassador Iruthisham Adam, Permanent Representative of Maldives to the United Nations, and Her Excellency Ambassador Amanda Ellis, Head of Mission and Permanent Representative of New Zealand to the United Nations. Her Excellency Ambassador Ms. Tan Yee Woan, Permanent Representative of Singapore to the United Nations was not available but the voice of Singapore was conveyed by the other co-chairs. The interview features extracts from a lively conversation hosted by Ambassador Ellis at the Geneva New Zealand Permanent Mission.
The voices of the Ambassadors joined to deliver a dynamic, passionate and informed message highlighting the urgency of the special vulnerabilities faced by small islands states, with the forthcoming Samoa conference providing a strategic momentum to address hurdles as well as opportunities. The Ambassadors explained their role and emphasized their efforts geared at connecting Geneva and New York diplomacy. They also stressed the complexity of human mobility matters in relation to climate impacts and development strategies, while also voicing a positive and optimistic message on development and adaptation opportunities for populations and communities.
IOM: Your Excellencies, 2014 is a special year for Small Island Developing States (SIDS), with many opportunities for policy advancement: Why a Geneva based informal working group on SIDS and what are you hoping to see accomplished?
Ambassador Williams: “Our plan for 2014 is that we, Geneva-based representatives of SIDS should contribute to the recognition of the small island states through a programme that seeks to promote the leadership and experience of agencies in Geneva and to incorporate the needs, challenges and hurdles that SIDS face in the design and delivery of programmes of organizations here (…). It only works if there is a buy in from both the membership and the leadership of these organizations. Very often, one of the issues is that there is not a full understanding of the members about the challenges that SIDS face.”
Ambassador Adam: “We could not find a platform for SIDS in Geneva. When we prepared for United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) Doha Ministerial in 2011 we pushed for recognition of a SIDS coordination group to raise our voice because, as small islands, we have a lot of challenges in relation to transport, tourism and sustainable development. Our special concerns were not being fully expressed in the G77 or in broader forums. We have contributed to the assessments of the Barbados Programme of Action (BPoA) and the Mauritius Strategy for Implementation and we want to be able to negotiate our language and terms (…). We do not have many SIDS based permanent missions in Geneva and we usually communicate our issues through Permanent Missions to the United Nations in New York. At the UN Human Rights Council, with the support of Morocco, Mauritius, Barbados and other countries, Maldives are now supported to lead an initiative to build a trust fund for SIDS to ensure that those without a presence in Geneva are able to participate. We want to make sure that during the Samoa Conference we speak of these issues.”
Ambassador Ellis: “We all thought it is so important to have Geneva based voices engaged. New Zealand is excited to be able to support SIDS voices being heard. Due to high operating costs, it has been difficult for SIDS to have a presence in Geneva. Moreover, there are many organizations here contributing on SIDS. We do want to capture their presentations, responses and discussions. These are sent back to the capital so they can be integrated into policy frameworks. Our group is really helping bridge the gap between New York and Geneva and has been acknowledged for this by our New York colleagues”.
Ambassador Williams: “We do want to achieve the same things. Geneva acts as an engine room for New York diplomacy and we want to make sure we have Geneva members on board.”
IOM: What are the reasons for your countries to co-chair the Geneva Working Group on SIDS and what are you planning for this year 2014 that has been designated by the United Nations as the International Year of SIDS?
Ambassador Williams: “Representatives of the Group of SIDS in UNCTAD plan to convey why special considerations should be given to SIDS. For Barbados, the goals and objectives of UNCTAD are in line with those of SIDS. We will host an event entitled “Achieving Sustainability in the Face of Vulnerability” on Friday, 20 June 2014 at the Palais des Nations in Geneva and will present SIDS perspectives on issues of vulnerability, debt, tourism sustainability and ocean economy that are of interest to all member states. We are pleased to have many powerful speakers (…). New Zealand has been very generous in assisting us financially and we also want to thank the Swiss government and Singapore in this respect. We plan to have a proceedings document to make available at the Samoa Conference (…). Barbados has been working very hard on sustainability, perspectives and energy efficiency and hence has been chosen to host the World Environment Day on the 5th of June”.
Ambassador Adam: “The Maldives have stepped up to speak about human rights and environment making the first submission at the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in 2008. In 2011, we managed to adopt a resolution on human rights and environment by consensus. All the key issues highlighted by my colleague, Marion, regarding the Barbados led event, will be addressed in national preparatory conferences for Samoa, through rights based approaches to climate change and in terms of wider environmental impacts. Maldives are also active at the climate negotiations through the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) group and on climate vulnerability through the Climate Vulnerable Forum. Singapore is active in leading efforts from New York, acting together with New Zealand as co-chairs of the SIDS Bureau. We support them because we need to be involved.
Ambassador Ellis: “New Zealand is looking forward to a successful outcome from the Third International SIDS Conference, which will be held in Samoa, in September. Many of our closest neighbours and development partners are SIDS. We are especially pleased that the Conference will be held in the South Pacific, which we together with many SIDS, call home. We are also conscious that it is SIDS themselves and not others – no matter how well-intentioned – who are best placed to lead consideration of the most pressing needs of small island developing states and to shape responses. New Zealand is the largest donor to the Commonwealth Small States Office in Geneva and seeks to facilitate an environment for SIDS to engage in Geneva (…). We are happy to welcome the Pacific SIDS to Geneva. New Zealand is an island state too, and 3/5 of our development assistance goes to our specific neighbors. We are really trying to see how we can help, for instance Jan Henderson is now New Zealand’s Resident High Commissioners to Bridgetown, Barbados to further build our linkages with the Caribbean.“
IOM: How would you assess the importance of the SIDS Third Conference as far as the opportunities it provides to its partner countries?
Ambassador Williams: “I am hopeful that different financing options for SIDS will be addressed at the conference as SIDS are the most indebted countries in the world. The SIDS are in fiscal deficit. They are borrowing just to exist. This puts them into further debt. There seems to be no way out - if we are faced with another natural disaster, we are put in further debt. It’s a cycle and a vortex.”
Ambassador Adam: “Many of the SIDS have graduated out of the Least Developed Countries (LDC) status. As international financial institutions now see many SIDS as middle-income countries, we are unable to get grants and technical assistance enjoyed as LDCs. We hope to develop understanding of SIDS needs and challenges and urge international institutions to have separate criteria for SIDS to get funding. We want SIDS to have access to grant funding and not only loan funding. The Maldives graduated on 1 January 2011 from the LDC category and has since had reduced funding opportunities.”
IOM: There is a long history of population mobility and solidarity between islands, what would you say are the most pressing policy priorities in addressing human mobility aggravated by climate change impacts in the SIDS context?
Ambassador Adam: “Climate change and environmental factors impact the migration of SIDS inhabitants. Maldives had this experience after the tsunami. Many of the inhabited islands were damaged, and the water flooding the island was contaminated. The initial approach by the government was to move people to nearby islands. People lost everything; they had nothing and no insurance. People did not want to stay on the island they have been moved to. People were not happy. It all becomes very emotional. There is an impact of migration on uninhabited islands as well. With the loss of livelihood and sense of security, islanders are less open to moving and migration becomes a political issue. There is a need for donors to develop awareness about migration in our islands. This policy should be supported by assistance and grants so that people are resettled without affecting their livelihoods (…).
Ambassador Ellis: “SIDS are the most likely to be affected by natural disasters - Pacific countries are 24 times more likely to have a natural disaster than European countries, and 4 times more likely than African countries. There is a setting there that needs more attention (…). We have a partnership with SIDS and Australia, so that if a disaster strikes they can respond within 24 hours. New Zealand has arranged to make sure that infrastructure in the Pacific is climate-proofed- to mitigate against the enormous costs that SIDS have to foot when there is a disaster. With the News Zealand’s recent earthquake we are aware of the high costs associated to natural disasters. In the case of a tsunami, resettlement to higher ground is also an option. Now there has been awareness-raising within the villages, to prevent loss of life and similar damage. There is a role that donors can play in partnering and listening to what the SIDS say their needs are. It’s a big job to resettle people after a natural disaster.”
IOM: Do you also see opportunities related to human mobility in the SIDS context?
Ambassador Ellis: “An initiative related to migration is the New Zealand “Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) Policy”. We don’t want our best and brightest to migrate. We want to encourage temporary migration. The Pacific leaders can commit a number of their workers to come to New Zealand to work in horticulture for instance and develop skill sets. Financial literacy and entrepreneurship training are also part of the programme. Small businesses started by those temporary migrants returning are becoming part of bigger value chains for New Zealand (…). RSE workers fill labour shortages, improving productivity and economic wellbeing in the viticulture and horticulture industries. In return, their remittances have enabled economic development in their home countries. Migration can be positive because migrants are bringing back skills and finances. It is important for donors to recognize that we need to be part of the solution for SIDS. “
Ambassador Adam: “We want a rights-based approach to climate change, as well as wider environmental impacts (…) We want to have a sustainable mechanism so SIDS do not slip back from what we achieved. In the Maldives the highest point is 2 meters above sea level. If a disaster hits- the whole island will be affected. There is no place for people to go. There are several multi-faceted approaches that can be taken- Disaster Risk Reduction, short-term policies, migration for climate change, development- all of these should be integrated.”
How do you see the future and priorities for Samoa?
Ambassador Ellis: “There are many innovative approaches to adaptation and to development. Take the example Women in Business Development (WIBDI) Samoa based coconut oil business that is supplying the Body Shop company, allowing families to earn an income while staying in their villages. We want such innovative, new creative ways to capitalize on organics and high quality products (…). Disaster risk reduction is also critical, so people can have choices.”
Ambassador Williams: “Solar energy was introduced in the 1970s in Barbados, but it has now been expanded and integrated into the national grid. Special arrangements and tax concessions are now an important aspect of Barbados’ renewable energy program. SIDS should work to develop the commerce of the ocean economies. The ocean is our hinter-land. We have to ensure that we grasp the opportunities to develop that. A lot of studies show that there is great potential in the oceans. (…).
Ambassador Adams: I feel very passionately about what can be addressed in Samoa. GDP and population data do not address the vulnerability of the small islands states. Unique financing for SIDS must be addressed in the Samoa conference.”
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2014 is the International Year of Small Island Developing States (SIDS), which will celebrate the contributions that SIDS have made to the world. The Third International Conference on SIDS titled “The sustainable development of Small Island Developing States through genuine and durable partnerships” will be held from 1 to 4 September 2014 in Apia, Samoa and will be preceded by activities related to the conference from 28 to 30 August 2014, also in Apia.
Background information for the Conference is available here.
More information on the Seminar: “Achieving Sustainability in the Face of Vulnerability” (http://unctad.org/en/Pages/MeetingDetails.aspx?meetingid=569