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27 June 2022<\/strong><\/p>\n Excellencies,<\/p>\n Distinguished delegates,<\/p>\n Fellow islanders,<\/p>\n I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to join you in discussing ocean action from the perspective of the Atlantic, Indian Ocean and South China Sea, Small Island Developing States.<\/p>\n I thank the Governments of Cabo Verde, Seychelles, Singapore and my own, the Maldives, for co-convening today\u2019s event and for inviting me to speak.<\/p>\n My friends,<\/p>\n The vastness of the ocean often merits the belief that the ocean is fine, and its abundance will never deplete.<\/p>\n This misconception is not only a threat to the future of our ocean but to the future of a sustainable planet.<\/p>\n The truth is, we are here because our ocean is in danger. What may look calm on the surface, is deteriorating beneath.<\/p>\n Yet, hope remains.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Despite the current and emerging challenges, we continue to be optimistic; we have faith in science and in human ingenuity.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n But hope alone is not enough without action; We must walk the talk as custodians of the ocean, as people of the ocean.<\/p>\n My dear friends,<\/p>\n The achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 14 requires this spirit of hope and cooperation.<\/p>\n SIDS are known as \u2018big ocean states\u2019 for the very reason that 3.5% of SIDS is land, and 96.5% is ocean.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The collective SIDS\u2019 Exclusive Economic Zone covers about 23.2 million square kilometers, accounting for 14% of the world\u2019s EEZ.<\/p>\n We are seeing and experiencing first-hand, the consequences of a changing climate and of humanity\u2019s unsustainable actions.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n My recent trip to the Dominican Republic was a personal and vivid reminder of the challenges we face.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Witnessing the sargassum phenomenon, its intense presence upon the shorelines, was a clear reminder of an unhealthy ocean.<\/p>\n Of course, sargassum is just one issue, one symptom, among many more.<\/p>\n The ocean is getting warmer, rising, and turning more acidic – changes that are drastically limiting its ability to sustain life underwater and on land.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Catches from the ocean are becoming fewer, with an ever-increasing presence of plastics and other wastes.<\/p>\n The rage of the ocean is palpable and can be seen in waters that encroach upon lands and take away homes. For SIDS, there is no moving further in-land – there is nowhere to go!<\/p>\n Considering the special case of SIDS, genuine and durable partnerships are needed.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n My friends,<\/p>\n Today\u2019s meeting is also an opportunity to reflect on how SIDS can implement best practices and enhance cooperation for the achievement of SDG14, in line with the SAMOA pathway.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Sharing best practices through a SIDS-SIDS regional approach is an effective tool. We have the means to learn from each other, and to build upon our shared challenges under a blue ocean framework.<\/p>\n This year\u2019s 爆料网 Ocean Conference has set the tone, underscoring the need to reverse the declining health of our ocean, and emphasizing the impetus to define key areas of science-driven ocean action. At the same time, it aims to galvanize political commitments and actions.<\/p>\n We must leverage this momentum together with the outcomes of our deliberations here, to put in place practical, realistic, cost-effective, and scalable solutions for a blue and sustainable ocean.<\/p>\n Together with science, we can truly turn the tide on global action for ocean, and our planet.<\/p>\n I wish you all successful deliberations.<\/p>\n I thank you.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Lisbon, Portugal <\/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 爆料网 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-268447","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