In this bulletin:
1. UN — Solomon Islands rejects 41 recommendations in UN human rights review
2.UN — NZ urges next UN chief to take stronger role on conflicts
3. IDN — Indonesia rejects claims of systematic right violations in Papua
4. FIJI — Fiji police probe tampering of $31m cocaine exhibits
5. PACIFIC — Pacific Ocean Commissioner welcomes Bezos Earth Fund Investment in Pacific Ocean stewardship
6. FIJI — Women bring relocation realities to Pre-COP31
7. FIJI — From climate activist to a political candidate: Raduva says Fiji youth need a seat at the table
8. PACNEWS BIZ — Samoa driving towards Electric Vehicle user-pay system
9. PACNEWS BIZ — Solomon Islands rejoins EITI: Turning natural resource wealth into sustainable development
10. PACNEWS BIZ — PNG economic stability needs more work: Bank
11. PACNEWS IN FOCUS — Pacific calls for a strong, implementable global plastics treaty in Bangkok
12. PACNEWS DIGEST — Children are dying’: Fiji hopes declaring an HIV emergency will help it tackle crisis
13. PACNEWS DIGEST — Building climate resilience in the Pacific
UN- HUMAN RIGHTS: PACNEWS PACNEWS 1: Wed 30 Sep 2026
Solomon Islands rejects 41 recommendations in UN human rights review
GENEVA, 30 SEPTEMBER 2026 (PACNEWS)—Solomon Islands has supported 140 of 181 recommendations made during its fourth Universal Periodic Review (UPR), while noting 41 recommendations covering sensitive social and legal issues.
The recommendations noted by Solomon Islands include those relating to consensual same-sex relationships, the decriminalisation and legalisation of abortion, and ratification of the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights aimed at abolishing the death penalty.
The outcomes were adopted during the 63rd Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva following Solomon Islands’ review by the UPR Working Group on 11 May 2026.
The review was led by a Troika comprising China, Malawi and Switzerland.
During the review, States and stakeholders also raised concerns about extremely high levels of violence against women and the very low representation of women in political decision-making.
Solomon Islands’ human rights obligations were also scrutinised against its participation in core international human rights instruments.
Five core international human rights treaties remain unsigned by Solomon Islands, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT), and the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.
The country also has yet to ratify specific International Labour Organsation conventions.
The Solomon Islands delegation reaffirmed that human rights are guaranteed under the Constitution and national legislation and said the Government remained committed to the principles of universality, indivisibility and interdependence of all human rights.
It said noting the 41 recommendations should not be interpreted as a lack of commitment to human rights.
As a least developed country and small island developing State, Solomon Islands said adequate resources and implementation capacity must be available before it assumes additional international obligations.
The Government said further consultations with relevant authorities and stakeholders would be required on the noted recommendations and called on international partners to provide technical assistance and capacity-building.
The delegation highlighted Solomon Islands’ recent accession to the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime as a key development since the previous review.
It said the accession demonstrated the Government’s commitment to tackling transnational organised crime, including human trafficking, and called for continued international cooperation and capacity-building support.
Solomon Islands also reaffirmed that establishing a national human rights institution in accordance with the Paris Principles remained a national priority.
The delegation said efforts would be accelerated to establish an independent and fully functional institution before the next UPR cycle.
It also linked its human rights commitments to national development priorities, including universal free education, energy and telecommunications development, critical infrastructure, constitutional and governance reforms, mining sector reform, financial sector modernisation, climate change mitigation and resilience, and disability inclusion.
The Government said these priorities formed part of a broader effort to integrate human rights into sustainable development and ensure no one was left behind.
Solomon Islands said it remained committed to fulfilling its international human rights obligations and advancing the welfare, dignity and rights of all Solomon Islanders.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade acknowledged the support of the Ministry of Justice and Legal Affairs, Ministry of Women, Youth, Children and Family Affairs, other government ministries and agencies, and regional and international partners in preparing and presenting the national report….PACNEWS
UN – DIPLOMACY: PACNEWS PACNEWS 1: Wed 30 Sep 2026
NZ urges next UN chief to take stronger role on conflicts
NEW YORK, 30 SEPTEMBER 2026 (PACNEWS)—New Zealand has called on the next United Nations Secretary-General to take a stronger role in preventing and resolving conflicts, defend the UN Charter and push for reforms to restore confidence in the organisation.
Delivering New Zealand’s High-Level Statement to the 81st session of the UN General Assembly, Permanent Representative to the UN Victoria Louise Hallum said the world was becoming more contested, fragmented and volatile, with conflicts increasing and humanitarian needs growing.
“The number of active conflicts in the world has doubled in the past 20 years.
“The number of conflict related deaths has reached levels not seen in decades,” Hallum said.
She said fundamental rules governing state behaviour were increasingly being violated, while human rights were being ignored and development gains had slowed.
Hallum said these challenges reinforced the need for a functioning multilateral system based on international law and the UN Charter.
“We regard the UN Charter with its core principles of sovereign equality of states, territorial integrity, the prohibition of the use of force and respect for human rights as irreplaceable,” she said.
New Zealand called on the next Secretary-General to be a “courageous guardian” of the UN Charter and to assert the organisation’s role in peace and security.
Hallum said member states remained responsible for preventing and resolving conflicts but the Secretary-General must be able to act on conflict prevention, mediation and peacemaking.
“The Secretary General should never have to ask permission or forgiveness for acting to prevent or resolve conflict,” she said.
She called for stronger UN action on conflicts in Sudan, Ukraine and Gaza.
On Ukraine, New Zealand called for a sustainable and just end to Russia’s invasion consistent with Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
On Gaza, Hallum urged the next Secretary-General to help move a fragile ceasefire towards lasting peace and preserve conditions for a two-state solution.
She also called for efforts to end hostilities in the Persian Gulf and restore freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz under international law.
She criticised the repeated use, or threat, of the veto to prevent the Council from acting.
“Too frequently has the veto or the threat of the veto been abused to block the Council from fulfilling its responsibilities,” she said.
New Zealand said it would continue pressing for a more effective, credible, transparent and representative Security Council and confirmed it was seeking a seat for 2039-40.
Hallum also highlighted nuclear disarmament, maritime law, climate change, human rights and development as priorities for the next Secretary-General.
She said the deterioration of the global non-proliferation regime should concern all countries and called for the preservation of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
New Zealand also called for continued adherence to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, describing it as the framework governing activities in the world’s oceans.
For the Pacific, Hallum said climate change remained the region’s greatest threat.
“As Pacific Island Forum leaders recently reaffirmed in Palau, climate change remains the single greatest threat to the livelihoods, security and wellbeing of Pacific peoples,” she said.
She welcomed the UN political declaration on sea-level rise, particularly its recognition of the preservation of maritime zones and the presumption of continued statehood despite sea-level rise.
Hallum also called for stronger protection of international humanitarian and human rights law, citing growing attacks on civilians, humanitarian workers and medical personnel.
On UN reform, she said the organisation needed to focus on results rather than the number of mandates or meetings it produced.
“We need a United Nations that is focused on its core tasks disciplined and accountable, one where every dollar delivers maximum impact,” she said.
She said member states must also take responsibility for the UN’s financial and legitimacy challenges by meeting their financial obligations in full and on time.
Hallum said reform could not be left to the Secretary-General alone.
“Ultimately, the health, relevance and effectiveness of the United Nations depends primarily on its members, not its Secretary general,” she said.
She ended by calling for renewed commitment to sovereignty, international law, dialogue, cooperation and the peaceful settlement of disputes.
“At a time when conflict is rising, trust is eroding and geopolitical competition is intensifying, we should not conclude that multilateralism has failed.
“We should conclude that it is needed more than ever,” Hallum said…. PACNEWS
IDN – DIPLOMACY: ANTARA PACNEWS 1: Wed 30 Sep 2026
Indonesia rejects claims of systematic right violations in Papua
JAKARTA, 30 SEPTEMBER 2-26 (ANTARA)—Indonesia rejects unilateral allegations of systematic human rights violations in Papua, emphasizing that credible claims are addressed seriously through national institutions and legal mechanisms, including the independent National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM).
According to a statement from the Foreign Affairs Ministry on Tuesday, Indonesia is exercising its right to reply during the General Debate of the 81st UN General Assembly in New York on 28 September.
This was in response to statements regarding the situation in Papua made by representatives from the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu.
It is noted that three civil servants were killed after distributing livestock aid to the community, a driver transporting necessities was killed, and nine women and children were abducted in Mimika.
“Attacking innocent civilians and murdering civil servants are criminal acts. Indonesia has a responsibility to protect all of its citizens. Law enforcement must and will remain subject to Indonesia’s laws and our international human rights obligations,” Indonesia emphasised in its right of reply.
Indonesia reiterated that discussions regarding Papua must reflect the situation in its entirety. Civilians, teachers, health workers, and government officials have also fallen victim to violence perpetrated by armed groups.
Indonesia stressed that a visit by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights must be mutually agreed upon by the host country and the Office of the High Commissioner, following standard practice for all member states, without external dictates from other countries or regional organisations.
Indonesia would continue to engage constructively through relevant mechanisms and promote dialogue and cooperation grounded in respect for facts and the safety of all civilians.
Previously, Solomon Islands Prime Minister Matthew Cooper Wale urged independent verification of longstanding human rights violation reports in West Papua during the 81st UN General Assembly, emphasising the need to resolve the persistent dispute.
Wale also called on Indonesia to facilitate the long-awaited visit of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to West Papua.
Vanuatu’s UN Permanent Representative Odo Tevi also voiced concern over alleged human rights violations in West Papua, stressing the link between peace, security, and human rights, and urging greater international attention and urgent follow-up on Pacific leaders’ call for a UN rights chief’s visit.
On 24 September , Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono and Solomon Islands Foreign Minister Rick Nelson Houenipwela met on the sidelines of the 81st UN General Assembly to strengthen development, trade, and capacity-building cooperation.
Sugiono invited Solomon Islands businesses to Trade Expo Indonesia on October 14–18, 2026, and encouraged finalising education and cultural cooperation.
Houenipwela outlined plans to strengthen the Solomon Islands’ representation in Jakarta to boost bilateral economic and trade ties, while appreciating Indonesia’s contributions through capacity-building programs and scholarships….PACNEWS
FIJI – DRUGS FIGHT: PACNEWS PACNEWS 1: Wed 30 Sep 2026
Fiji police probe tampering of $31m cocaine exhibits
SUVA, 30 SEPTEMBER 2026 (PACNEWS)— Fiji Police have launched an investigation after all drug exhibits linked to the $31 million (US$15.5 million) Joshua Aziz Rahman cocaine case and held at the Suva High Court Registry were found to have been tampered with.
Forensic testing of the remaining substances in the exhibits returned negative results for illicit drugs, raising questions over how the exhibits were handled and secured while in court custody.
Justice Minister and Acting Attorney-General Siromi Turaga told Parliament that the substances in the exhibits had been replaced with what is believed to be flour.
The development follows the discovery two weeks ago that seven bars of cocaine linked to Rahman’s case were missing from the High Court exhibit room.
The cocaine had been held at the court after Rahman was convicted and sentenced in 2021.
Police are now focusing their investigation on people responsible for managing and securing the exhibits at the High Court Registry.
A person of interest allegedly linked to the incident is currently overseas and is expected to be questioned as part of the investigation.
Turaga said the matter was immediately brought to the attention of Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka and investigations were underway.
He said he was deeply disappointed by the incident and those responsible would face the full force of the law.
“This is a very serious matter,” Turaga told Parliament, stressing the need to establish how the exhibits were accessed and tampered with.
Opposition MP Faiyaz Koya described the incident as a serious concern and called for all materials, particularly drug exhibits, to be checked and tested.
Turaga said measures had already been taken to strengthen security around exhibits, including restricting access to certain materials held at the High Court Registry.
The investigation will examine the chain of custody of the cocaine exhibits, access to the court’s exhibit room and the circumstances surrounding the disappearance and replacement of the substances.
The Rahman case involved a major cocaine seizure and resulted in his conviction and sentencing in 2021.
Police are continuing investigations into the tampering and missing exhibits…..PACNEWS
PAC – OCEAN CONSERVATION: OPOC PACNEWS 1: Wed 30 Sep 2026
Pacific Ocean Commissioner welcomes Bezos Earth Fund Investment in Pacific Ocean stewardship
KOROR/SUVA, 30 SEPTEMBER 2026 (OPOC)—The Pacific Ocean Commissioner, Dr Filimon Manoni, has welcomed the announcement of more than US$25 million in new grants from the Bezos Earth Fund to support ocean conservation and management initiatives in five countries across the Pacific region.
“This significant investment is a strong vote of confidence in Pacific leadership and the generations of stewardship that Pacific peoples have provided for our ocean,” said Dr Manoni.
This support complements well with countless other donors and initiatives that already exist in the region and also at grassroots that go unannounced. We in the Pacific value our donor partners, as they create an enabling environment for the great work that our countries do for the world.
“The Pacific Ocean is central to our identity, livelihoods, cultures, food security, and future prosperity. These grants recognise that effective ocean conservation is strongest when it builds upon collective stewardship and dialogue, knowledge, commitment, and aspirations of Pacific communities.”
Dr Manoni noted that the Earth Fund would support important national and regional efforts, including marine spatial planning, the establishment and strengthening of marine protected areas, sustainable financing mechanisms, community-led ocean management, and the development of pioneering proposals under the UN High Seas Treaty.
He also welcomed the support for advancing marine protected areas on the high seas, describing it as a timely contribution to global efforts to safeguard the biodiversity and ecological connectivity of the Pacific Ocean. This support provided from the Earth Fund through OPOC is also in line with Forum Leaders mandate this year for Commissioner to collaborate with members, regional organisations and partners to mobilise financing for the implementation of the BBNJ agreement.
“As the world works towards achieving the global goal of protecting at least 30 percent of the ocean by 2030, sustained partnerships and investments such as these are essential. They help ensure that conservation efforts deliver benefits not only for biodiversity, but also for the communities whose wellbeing depends on a healthy and resilient ocean.”
Dr Manoni reiterated the Pacific’s commitment to regional cooperation and thanked the Bezos Earth Fund and its partners for supporting Pacific-led solutions.
“We commend the Bezos Earth Fund and its partners for recognising the Pacific’s leadership and for investing in locally driven, long-term approaches to ocean protection. Together, we can strengthen our collective efforts to safeguard the health of the Pacific Ocean for present and future generations.”
The announcement came just days after the 55th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders concluded in Koror, Palau.
The Leaders in their annual meeting in Palau also endorsed the 2026 Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Ocean Statement where they laid out a unified regional agenda to strengthen advocacy and coordinated engagement across international processes on oceans, climate change, biodiversity, fisheries, pollution and sustainable development….PACNEWS
FIJI – PRE COP: FIJI SUN PACNEWS 1: Wed 30 Sep 2026
Women bring relocation realities to Pre-COP31
SUVA, 30 SEPTEMBER 2026 (FIJI SUN)—For women in four Fijian communities, climate-related relocation is not simply about moving to a safer place. It is about what happens to their land, livelihoods, culture, families and sense of belonging.
Their experiences will be brought directly into Pre-COP31 discussions in Nadi, giving women and elders an opportunity to share the realities of relocation and the difficult choices communities face.
Women and elders from Nabavatu, Narikoso, Vunidavo and Nayavuira will share their experiences documented through the Community Climate Talks.
The documentary will be screened during the “Amplifying Voices of Relocation” side event at the Sofitel Fiji Resort in Denarau, Nadi on 05 Octobe.
The 45-minute session will bring community experiences and traditional knowledge into discussions involving research, policy and the wider international climate debate.
The four communities represent different experiences of climate-related relocation.
Narikoso in Kadavu partially relocated more than a decade ago, while Nabavatu in Macuata is currently undergoing relocation.
Vunidavo in Namosi relocated in the early 1980s through community efforts, while Nayavuira in Ra has chosen not to relocate.
The event is convened by the German Embassy in Fiji as part of Germany’s engagement around Pre-COP31 and delivered in cooperation with GIZ Pacific through the Global Programme on Human Mobility in the Context of Climate Change (HMCCC), SauVaka Culture Consultancy and Tabualuma Media Production.
Head of Delegation of the Federal Republic of Germany, Secretary of State Jochen Flasbarth, said planned relocation was ultimately about people, communities and the places they called home.
“Germany’s engagement on climate mobility in Fiji is grounded in listening to those living these realities,” Flasbarth said.
“By bringing women’s experiences directly into the Pre-COP31 conversation, we want to create space for community perspectives to inform the wider discussion on climate mobility.”
GIZ Pacific representative Anina Vontobel said women played an important role in understanding what successful and inclusive relocation meant.
“Women are not only experiencing the impacts of relocation; they are also carrying knowledge, responsibilities and perspectives that are essential to understanding what successful and inclusive relocation means,” Vontobel said….PACNEWS
FIJI – POLITICS: PMN PACNEWS 1: Wed 30 Sep 2026
From climate activist to a political candidate: Raduva says Fiji youth need a seat at the table
SUVA, 30 SEPTEMBER 2026 (PMN)—The 22-year-old SODELPA candidate says young Fijians should be treated as leaders now, not told to wait for their turn as she takes her grassroots advocacy into the political arena.
Ann-Mary Raduva has spent years pushing for action on climate change and the environment. Now, at 22, she wants to take that fight into Fiji’s political decision-making spaces.
Raduva, one of the Social Democratic Liberal Party’s (SODELPA) proposed candidates for the 2026 General Election, says moving from grassroots activism into politics is about having a direct role in shaping decisions that affect Fiji’s future.
“It’s a way where I could contribute to discussion tables and climate negotiation spaces where we come up with solutions that will benefit us and our future generations,” she told PMN News.
The Tailevu-Rotuma university student has been involved in environmental advocacy since she was young, including beach clean-ups and campaigning against balloon pollution.
Her political work has also taken her into formal decision-making spaces, including being part of SODELPA’s submission team to the Constitution Review Commission.
Raduva says those experiences have reinforced the importance of listening, consultation, accountability and transparency.
“Our people deserve to know our plans, they deserve to be listened to, to be seen, to be included in everything that we do.”
She knows her age will be questioned in a political space where experience is often measured in years.
“I may not have the experience or the formal qualifications, but I bring heart. Heart to listen, heart to empower, heart to serve, heart to lead the next generation,” Raduva said.
“At the end of the day, I’m here on a temporary purpose, and that is to serve the heartbeat of our nation, and that’s our people in all spaces.”
For Raduva, getting more young people involved is not simply about having younger candidates on the ballot.
“Politicians think of the next general elections, but I think of the next generation,” Raduva said.
“We must see young people as collaborators. We must see young people as leaders of today and not tomorrow. We are citizens of Fiji; we must be seen, heard, and included in all spaces so that our voices matter.”
She says that it is also about rebuilding young people’s trust in the democratic process.
Raduva says her decision to contest under SODELPA reflects her alignment with the party’s values, including education, economic stability, cultural heritage and youth participation.
“SODELPA is also ready to pass on the baton to our young people of our beautiful nation, engaging them in discussions to understand the works of the party and what can and could be done differently.”
Economic growth and social stability are also priorities for her.
“In order for Fiji to have economic growth and stability, we must first have raw and honest conversations and dialogues for the future of Fiji and for our people,” she said.
“Investing in our people, providing opportunities, benefits, security and stability for our people… that we can do it and we will always win this together.”
Climate and environmental protection remain central to her political platform, particularly pollution and its long-term impact on Fiji and the wider Pacific.
Raduva says young women entering politics should expect criticism but not let it define them.
“As a young woman stepping into this space, you will be stigmatized, you will be attacked, you will be criticized all the time because of your age, your gender, and your background,” she said.
“But continue to be who you are, know your facts… surround yourself with people that will continuously lift you up.”
Her message to Fiji’s young people is simple: register, turn up and use their vote.
Raduva says the generation that will live with today’s decisions should also have a say in making them.
The Fijian Elections Office says Fiji’s next general election is expected to be held between late December 2026 and early February 2027….PACNEWS
PACNEWS BIZ
SAMOA – ELECTRIC VEHHICLE: SPREP PACNEWS BIZ: Wed 30 Sep 2026
Samoa driving towards Electric Vehicle user-pay system
APIA, 30 SEPTEMBER 2026 (SPREP)—Samoa is closing the gap in its transition to a low-carbon and climate-resilient future, with a proposed user-pay system for the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment’s (MNRE) Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Stations.
A Validation Workshop, was held in Apia bringing together the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE), the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), consultants, technical experts and stakeholders to review technical findings and recommendations and consider how Samoa’s EV charging infrastructure can be operated, maintained and sustainably financed in the long term.
Discussions explored technical findings, a business development model and pilot, options for payment system design, and agreement on next steps. This follows on from initial discussions held in May this year.
“When we commenced this work in May, our focus was on finding a sustainable approach to cost recovery, monitoring and the long-term operation of Samoa’s EV charging infrastructure,” said Ueligitone Enosa, Principal Climate Change Mitigation Officer, MNRE.
“The progress presented for validation today takes us another step towards translating that objective into a practical system that can support wider electric vehicle adoption and contribute to Samoa’s renewable energy ambitions.”
In May this year an inception workshop was held by MNRE with the support of SPREP’s Pacific Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) Hub Phase 4. It saw the start of the technical assessment and development of a user-pay system for the MNRE EV Charging Station.
This established a common understanding of the project scope, methodology, deliverables and implementation arrangements before technical work began. Four months later, the process has progressed from project inception and technical assessment to the validation of findings and recommendations, including consideration of the proposed business development model, pilot arrangements and payment system design.
For MNRE, the work responds to an important challenge identified at the inception stage. While Samoa has established a solar-powered EV charging station at Friendship Park in Apia, MNRE noted in May that the existing arrangement did not yet provide a sustainable model for cost recovery, monitoring or long-term expansion.
It was then that MNRE emphasised that the initiative was not only about charging electric vehicles, but also about creating a system that could support wider EV adoption, strengthen confidence in clean energy solutions and contribute to Samoa’s renewable energy ambitions.
“What we are seeing today is tangible progress from the work we started together in May. At that time, we agreed on the scope, methodology and direction of the assessment,” said Toiata Uili, SPREP Technical Officer, NDC Hub. For SPREP, the validation workshop held in September is an important transition point between assessment and implementation.
“Four months later, we now have technical findings and proposed options before stakeholders for validation. This is an important step in moving from planning and dialogue towards practical solutions that can support Samoa’s low-carbon and climate-resilient transition.”
The validation of this is particularly important because transitioning to electric requires the supporting systems to be in place. These must be practical, reliable, financially sustainable and appropriate for Samoa’s circumstances….PACNEWS
SOL – EXTRACTIVE INDUSTRIES: UNDP PACNEWS BIZ: Wed 30 Sep 2026
Solomon Islands rejoins EITI: Turning natural resource wealth into sustainable development
HONIARA, 30 SEPTEMBER 2026 (UNDP)— Solomon Islands has rejoined the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), marking an important step in the country’s efforts to strengthen transparency, accountability and the governance of its natural resources.
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) congratulates the Government and people of Solomon Islands on the milestone, which comes at an important time as the country’s mining sector is expected to play a growing role in economic diversification, public revenues and employment, with gold and nickel projects such as Gold Ridge and Kolosori contributing to the expansion of the sector.
Minister of Finance and Treasury, Rexon Ramofafia said, “Rejoining the EITI reflects our commitment to ensuring that the development of Solomon Islands’ mineral resources is transparent, accountable and delivers benefits for our people. As investment and production increase, we want citizens to have confidence in how the sector is managed and how revenues are collected and used. The EITI provides an important framework for government, industry and civil society to work together towards that goal.”
Recent work undertaken as part of Solomon Islands’ EITI re-engagement identified both opportunities and challenges as the sector develops, including the need for reliable production and revenue data, stronger oversight and coordination, and continued improvements in systems for managing information.
These issues have direct implications for development. Reliable information can help government institutions strengthen revenue collection, improve public financial management and make better-informed policy decisions. Greater transparency can also support responsible investment and provide communities with a stronger basis for participating in discussions about the management of natural resources.
UNDP Pacific Resident Representative Munkhtuya Altangerel said the country’s return to EITI was an important opportunity to connect transparency with stronger institutions and better development outcomes.
“Solomon Islands’ return to the EITI comes at a defining moment for the country’s development. As the mining sector grows, the quality of the institutions that govern natural resources will be just as important as the resources themselves”, said Altangerel.
“The EITI provides Solomon Islands with an important platform to strengthen public institutions, improve access to reliable information, support informed decision-making and ensure that the benefits of natural resource development can contribute to inclusive and sustainable development.”
A central feature of EITI is its multi-stakeholder approach, bringing government, industry and civil society together around shared information and dialogue.
For Solomon Islands, this provides an important platform to strengthen participation in decisions concerning a sector that is closely connected to land, communities and livelihoods.
UNDP-supported work has also brought together government institutions, civil society, companies, women leaders, youth and community representatives to examine governance risks, strengthen participation and identify areas for improved coordination and information sharing.
Solomon Islands’ return to EITI has been supported by the Government of the United Kingdom through funding to UNDP for technical assistance to the Government of Solomon Islands.
This support has helped national stakeholders strengthen institutional capacity, undertake technical and policy analysis, facilitate multi-stakeholder engagement and prepare for renewed EITI implementation.
British High Commissioner to Solomon Islands, Paul Turner said, “EITI can support Solomon Islands in strengthening its revenue collection and exports. It is a win – win – win: for Government; local communities; and for mining companies who will have greater export markets.”
The achievement reflects the leadership of the Government of Solomon Islands, the Solomon Islands EITI National Secretariat, the National Stakeholders Group, civil society, industry and other national institutions, with technical engagement from the EITI International Secretariat and support from development partners.
As Solomon Islands moves into the next phase of implementation, the focus will be on translating disclosure into stronger institutions, informed public dialogue and better development outcomes.
UNDP will continue to support Solomon Islands and national partners in advancing transparent, accountable and inclusive governance of the country’s natural resources….PACNEWS
PNG – ECONOMY: THE NATIONAL PACNEWS BIZ: Wed 30 Sep 2026
PNG economic stability needs more work: Bank
PORT MORESBY, 30 SEPTEMBER 2026 (THE NATIONAL)—Economic stability has improved in Papua New Guinea but more work is needed to translate its abundant natural resource wealth into sustained economic growth and prosperity, according to the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
Country director Takafumi Kadono said that in the next five years, the ADB with the government and development partners would build a “more diversified, inclusive, resilient, and productive economy that delivers higher living standards and greater opportunities”.
The ADB is investing through a five-year plan for stronger public finances, transport and energy connections and better access to health, education, and other essential services.
Kadono said that investments and policy support would strengthen public financial management, improve oversight of the resource sector, and make it easier for businesses to invest, operate and grow.
These would increase government revenue and direct public resources toward development priorities, including the delivery of essential public services.
ADB investments in transport, energy, and agriculture logistics will help connect people and businesses to markets and public services and create jobs and economic opportunities for underserved groups.
ADB’s support for secondary education, skills development, health systems, access to water and sanitation, and social inclusion will increase productivity, equip people with job-ready skills, and diversify the economy.
ADB’s support for private sector development will focus on infrastructure investment, improving private sector competitiveness and access to finance, and positioning PNG in responsible resource, agribusiness, and resilient value chains.
It was also making efforts to prevent and respond to violence against women and sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment, expand digitalisation to improve access to services, deepen regional and global cooperation and trade, actively engage the private sector, enhance resilience to natural hazards and disasters, and boost nature conservation….PACNEWS
PACNEWS In Focus
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
Pacific calls for a strong, implementable global plastics treaty in Bangkok
BANGKOK, 30 SEPTEMBER 2026 (SPREP)—Pacific Small Island Developing States (PSIDS) are calling for continued progress towards an ambitious, effective and implementable international legally binding instrument to end plastic pollution, as Heads of Delegation meet in Bangkok this week for the second informal in-person meeting of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on Plastic Pollution (INC).
The Bangkok meeting, taking place from 27–30 September 2026 at the United Nations Conference Centre, aims to deepen understanding among Members, identify areas of common ground and provide direction for the next iteration of the Chair’s Aid to Negotiations.
Representing the collective voice of 14 Pacific Small Island Developing States, the PSIDS opening statement welcomed the spirit of Samakkhi, unity and harmony, and the opportunity for countries to build on lessons from the Heads of Delegation meeting held in Nairobi in June and July this year.
As current PSIDS Chair, Fiji delivered the Pacific group’s opening statement, highlighting several issues that remain critical to ensuring the future treaty responds to the realities of Pacific countries.
“The full lifecycle approach must be protected and more clearly reflect sustainable production and consumption. Human health and the protection of vulnerable communities remains insufficiently reflected. Stronger pathways are needed to adopt and amend annexes so the instrument can respond to problematic products and chemicals of concern over time,” said Seinimili Nakora, Director of Environment for Fiji’s Ministry of Environment and Climate Change.
The Pacific also called for stronger provisions on national action plans, reporting and effectiveness evaluation, as well as clearer treatment of releases and leakages, the waste hierarchy, means of implementation, remediation of existing plastic pollution and the special circumstances of small island developing States (SIDS) and Least Developed Countries.
These issues are particularly significant for Pacific countries, where plastic pollution affects interconnected marine and terrestrial environments, coastal communities, livelihoods and economies.
“Recognising the disproportionate impacts of plastic pollution places on our economies, environments and communities remains central to the Pacific’s engagement in the negotiations,” Nakora said.
The Pacific has remained actively engaged throughout the global plastics treaty process. At the informal Heads of Delegation meeting in Nairobi, Fiji served as Co-Facilitator for Cluster C on Means of Implementation, alongside Austria.
The cluster focuses on finance, capacity building, technical assistance, technology transfer and international cooperation.
Fiji will continue in this role in Bangkok.
“We recognise that a global challenge requires a global response. But that response must be ambitious, practical and responsive to the particular circumstances of our Small Island Developing States. A strong treaty must be matched by the means to implement it, particularly through finance, capacity building, technical assistance and technology transfer,” said Anthony Talouli, Director of Waste Management and Pollution Control at the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP).
“SPREP will continue to support our Members in ensuring that the Pacific voice is heard clearly and constructively as these negotiations progress. We have an opportunity to shape an agreement that can deliver meaningful change for our people, our ocean and future generations,” Talouli added.
The current Aid to Negotiations, published by the INC Chair Julio Cordano in August 2026, serves as an informal reference document to support the ongoing process towards the development of the legally binding instrument.
The PSIDS welcomed the Chair’s effort to use the Bangkok meeting to test possible bridges and solutions among Members, while stressing the importance of preserving the range of viable options and progress achieved during negotiations.
“Our ask is that the next iteration of the Aid to Negotiations accurately reflects the full range of viable options and the progress made by Members, rather than prematurely narrowing the negotiations,” Nakora said.
“For PSIDS, success must mean a pathway to a treaty capable of ending plastic pollution, protecting our people and ocean and responding to the realities faced by SIDS,” she added.
The Bangkok meeting forms part of the preparations for the next substantive stage of the global plastics treaty negotiations, with the fourth part of the fifth session of the INC (INC-5.4) scheduled for March 2027.
The negotiations have progressed through a series of sessions since 2022. The process began with INC-1 in Punta del Este, Uruguay in November 2022, followed by meetings in Paris, Nairobi, Ottawa, Busan and Geneva….PACNEWS
PACNEWS DIGEST
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
Children are dying’: Fiji hopes declaring an HIV emergency will help it tackle crisis
One in 60 adults Fiji lives with HIV but a recent emergency declaration may help address key issues such as syringe sharing
By Michelle Duff
SUVA, 30 SEPTEMBER 2026 (THE GUARDIAN)—On a recent Friday night, Dr Kesaia Tuidraki’s medical team parked its mobile clinic outside McDonald’s in downtown Suva, Fiji, and grabbed any kid they could to be tested for HIV. Of the 97 people screened, mostly teenagers – some on their way to get a burger, others to buy drugs – one in six tested positive.
“Children are suffering, children are dying, and if that doesn’t move you I don’t know what will,” Tuidraki, country director of Medical Services Pacific, tells the Guardian.
Fijian authorities this month called a national health emergency to deal with surging HIV cases, with an estimated one in 60 adults now living with the virus. It comes as new infections surge, with 2,016 new cases diagnosed in 2025 – rising by 27 percent in a year, and representing a 12-fold increase since 2010, according to UNAids. In a close-knit island nation of about 930,000 people, an estimated 9,100 are now living with the virus.
But only a fraction of those are tested and access treatment, prompting the government to scale up its pandemic announcement – first made in February 2025 – and mobilise urgent measures to prevent its spread. Dr Jason Mitchell, the head of Fiji’s HIV epidemic response, said it could take between five and 10 years to get a handle on the virus, and in the meantime he would expect numbers to rise.
Critics say moves to stem the spread of a disease that is being driven by cases in the young, with new diagnoses highest in those aged between 15 and 34, has been too slow. The crisis is complex and inextricably linked to the drug epidemic – more than 42 percent of new cases in 2025 were due to sharing contaminated needles or equipment.
Health advocates and social workers say primary school-age children are among those injecting themselves and friends are using the same contaminated needle, a problem raised by advocates as far back as 2019.
“I know these young boys, they ask me for syringes,” injecting drug user Rochelle*, who is living with HIV, tells the Guardian. “Whenever I have them I give them out. Someone has to give them, they’re already accessing the drugs.”
Rochelle, 38, says she tries to tell the boys not to share. Sometimes the kids listen – but not always.
Under current law, giving out syringes is technically considered aiding and abetting drug use. A concern among some politicians and medical professionals is that providing needles would encourage drug use – despite evidence from UNAids that this is not the case –and advocates are urging the government to let them distribute thousands of needles and syringes sitting untouched in a Suva warehouse.
“It’s really sad, honestly. We can’t wait any more, there are boxes and boxes already here,” Tuidraki says.
Mitchell says he expects a change to the HIV Act to be passed within the next two weeks, allowing public health workers to distribute needles. He adds that the government has been “cautious” in announcing the emergency, which his unit had been asking for since June.
Those leading the response say increased powers arising from the emergency declaration will help to quell the rapid spread of HIV, including to vulnerable populations like mothers and babies, at an estimated extra cost of FJD $23m(US$10.2m) a year.
“The immediate crisis right now is the spread of HIV, which is why the needle and syringe programme is critical,” UNAids, the UN agency that fights HIV and Aids, regional director Eamonn Murphy said.
‘People are scared’
The epidemic is complex but heavily linked to methamphetamine use. Fiji is a drug-running hub in the Pacific for methamphetamine bound for Australian and New Zealand markets, but use escalated during Covid when borders were closed and it began circulating domestically.
While Fijians want the crisis addressed, there has also been a backlash. Only 39 percent of those living with HIV in Fiji know their status, according to UNAids, and some of those spoken to by the Guardian continued to live in denial or refuse testing.
“There are people blaming the [queer] community, blaming women as irresponsible people, there’s a lot of cyberbullying. Minorities are being attacked online,” Mark Shaheel Lal, an advocate who lives with HIV, says. “Now it’s more like a scandal and people are scared.”
UNAids is also concerned about the spread of the virus to the Pacific, with rising cases seen in Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea. In November, Australia’s minister for foreign affairs, Penny Wong, announced AUD$48m (US$33 million) for Pacific countries to fight HIV/Aids, while New Zealand committed NZ$4.2m (US$2.36 million) to Fiji in July.
The introduction of PreP – or pre-exposure prophylaxis – an HIV prevention drug, would be a “gamechanger,” says Mitchell, who adds that one injection could be offered every six months for those at higher risk.
It would be especially important for women who are not able to push for safe sex practices with partners. Two in every 100 pregnant women now have HIV. “You can’t hide a bottle of pills, but you can get an injection,” says Michell.
For now, women are already being offered three HIV tests during pregnancy and sexual reproductive hubs are operating at the three main hospitals.
“There’s no miracles in the HIV response, it does not happen overnight. Unfortunately people are thinking this is like Covid, it’s very much not,” Mitchell says.
His team plans to open new clinics, integrate testing and treatment into GP services, work on harm reduction, and hire at least 100 more staff. He says that the increase in cases means more people are getting tested, which is a positive.
“Burnout is a major concern – we didn’t just start working, we’ve been working for 21 months. It’s difficult, and the difficulty is that all of it is preventable. It should not be happening.”
But in many areas, including rural localities, access to treatment continues to lag. Drug Free World Fiji founder and campaigner Kalesi Volatabu is still haunted by the 15-year-old girl she met when she started pushing for a safe needle programme six years ago. A drug mule who smuggled methamphetamine to New Zealand and Australia, she had names for the three main veins on the back of her hand; breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
“We had no idea of the severity, of the depth of the drug trade in this country, of the HIV crisis. Even I was naive, at the beginning, and everything was unreported for the longest time. We failed to act then – will we now?”…PACNEWS
*Name has been changed
PACNEWS DIGEST
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
Building climate resilience in the Pacific
CANBERRA,30 SEPTEMBER 2026 (AUSTRADE)—As Pacific leaders prepare for pre-COP discussions in Tuvalu and Fiji, climate resilience remains a pressing priority.
Across the region, rising sea levels, coastal erosion and severe weather are already affecting communities, infrastructure and livelihoods.
Australian dredging and marine infrastructure contractor Hall Contracting is helping Pacific nations respond with practical coastal protection and adaptation solutions.
The Queensland-based company has worked in the Pacific for more than 20 years, delivering complex dredging, marine and coastal infrastructure projects across Tuvalu, Kiribati, the Marshall Islands and Solomon Islands.
Protecting Pacific communities
Much of Hall Contracting’s Pacific work focuses on climate adaptation. For low-lying atoll nations such as Tuvalu and Marshall Islands, climate change is already reshaping coastlines and communities.
In Tuvalu, the company is creating new land as part of the Tuvalu Coastal Adaption Project for the Tuvalu Government.
“We’re creating new land in Tuvalu, lifting it 2 to 3 metres above sea level so communities have better protection from rising seas and extreme weather,” says Hall Contracting CEO and Director Cameron Hall.
In the Marshall Islands, Hall Contracting has delivered a major seawall project to help protect homes, public infrastructure and essential services from severe weather and coastal erosion.
For Hall, the value of these projects goes beyond engineering.
‘It’s hugely rewarding. You’re not just building infrastructure, you’re making a real difference to people’s lives,” says Hall.
Infrastructure as an investment in the Pacific’s future
Climate-resilient infrastructure helps Pacific nations to protect communities, maintain essential services and support economic activity in the face of climate change.
Coastal protection also supports food and water security, safeguards cultural heritage and helps communities stay connected to place.
As Pacific governments and development partners increase investment in adaptation, projects such as these show how Australian expertise can work in partnership to deliver practical outcomes aligned with national climate priorities.
Building local capability alongside infrastructure
Hall Contracting also employs and trains local workers on its Pacific projects, building capability alongside infrastructure.
“We bring people in from local islands as much as we can, employ locals and transfer skills,” says Hall. “Our project managers enjoy getting someone who’s never driven a dump truck before and teaching them from scratch how to operate it, how to maintain it and how to do the job properly.”
In some cases, training has opened new pathways for local workers.
During a coastal protection project in the Marshall Islands, 3 women working as site safety officers expressed interest in becoming heavy equipment operators.
“They put their hands up and said, “Can we drive the dump trucks?” and our project manager said, “Why not?” We trained them, and they went on to operate 45-tonne dump trucks on the project.”
Why Australian companies are well placed to deliver
As demand for climate adaptation infrastructure continues to grow across the Pacific, Australian companies such as Hall Contracting are well placed to deliver.
Australian contractors bring high environmental, safety and governance standards, as well as experience working with governments, development banks and local communities across the region.
Hall says procurement for development-funded infrastructure is increasingly assessing technical capability, quality and delivery performance alongside price.
“A lot of the agencies now have much stricter qualifying rules and stronger tender assessments,” he says. “They’re looking at capability first, then price, taking into account quality, timing and delivery standards.”
With sustained investment flowing from governments, multilateral development banks and international partners, climate adaptation infrastructure will remain central to the Pacific’s development agenda for years to come.
As Pacific leaders and global partners prepare for critical climate discussions in Tuvalu and Fiji, Hall Contracting’s work shows how Australian expertise is helping deliver safer, more resilient communities across the region. …PACNEWS
