Dissemination of the International Policy Proposal

During the first phase of "Investigative Study Concerning Conservation and Management of Islands and Their Surrounding Ocean Area," we hosted international seminars every year in collaboration with the Australian National Centre for Ocean Resource & Security (ANCORS) and the Applied Geoscience and Technology Division of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SOPAC Division of SPC), developed the International Joint Policy Proposal, disseminated the proposal to relevant offices and made efforts to realize its implementation.

During this project, which is the second phase, we will continue hosting international seminars in collaboration with ANCORS, SOPAC Division of SPC and PIFS, so that we can compile policies that island countries and international society should promote to achieve sustainable development of islands and their surrounding ocean areas as the New International Joint Policy Proposal, discuss its embodiment and realize its implementation.

We sent this compiled New International Joint Policy Proposal to ANCORS, SOPAC Division of SPC, PIFS and other relevant bodies, and requested that it be deliberated at the Third International Conference on Small Island Developing States.

International Seminar Concerning Islands and Oceans

Programs

UN Open Working Group (OWG) on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This OWG 8 was held from February 3, 2014 to February 7, 2014, at the UN Headquarters meeting room in New York under the themes of ocean, forest, biodiversity, promotion of social and gender equal opportunity, conflict resolution, and law and governance. Approximately 150 people from NGOs that have observer qualification (major group*1 and other organizations) in addition to working group members from around 30 countries (organizations) participated in the meeting.
The UN OWG accepts observer participation and opinion submission from the working group members, major groups and other approved organizations. We are given a special consultative status by the UN Economic and Social Council. We participated in the OWG meeting as a major group and submitted the policy proposal on ocean titled "For The Better Conservation and Management of Islands and Their Surrounding Ocean Areas" to the meeting as a contributing document in advance.

Relevant Document

• Contribution Paper for the OWG on SDGs―For The Better Conservation and Management of Islands and Their Surrounding Ocean Areas (PDF: 126 KB)

1. *1Because sustainable development cannot be achieved just by the government system, participation from 9 sectors including business and industry, children and youth, farmers, indigenous people, local governments, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), science and technology, women, and workers and trade unions is essential (Agenda 21, Chapter 3). Concerning NGO, the importance of NGO as a partner for sustainable development and the necessity of NGO's capacity building are stated in Chapter 27 of Agenda 21 and Clause 53 "The Future We Want."