UN Under Secretary-General and High Representative arrives in Fiji ahead of CROP-UNCT Signing

The UN’s Under Secretary-General and High Representative for Least Developed Countries (LDCs), Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS), Ms Rabab Fatima, landed in Suva this morning ahead of her first official mission to Fiji. 

To begin her mission, this morning, Ms Fatima will meet with Fiji’s Prime Minister, Hon. Sitiveni Rabuka.

Following key meetings, Ms Fatima will join Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS) Secretary-General, Henry Puna, this week to sign the CROP – UNCT Principles for Dialogue and Engagement for greater collaboration between Member States and strengthened overall partnership. 

“It is my honour to visit Fiji and be here in the Blue Pacific. The purpose of my visit is twofold - to strengthen global UN action on the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent, and to champion Pacific priorities for the 4th International Conference for Small Island Developing States (SIDS4). These two purposes are inherently connected. While the 2050 Strategy charts the course for the Pacific region’s sustainable development, based on the region’s unique strengths and challenges, the SIDS4 Conference aims to drive a new decade of partnerships and solutions to supercharge SIDS’ path to resilient prosperity,” Ms Fatima said. 

Appointed as the High Representative in 2022, Ms Fatima is responsible for supporting LDCs, LLDCs, and SIDS to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, and their respective programmes of action adopted by global consensus. Together, LDCs, LLDCs and SIDS constitute the 92 most vulnerable countries in the world. 

To conclude her mission, Ms Fatima will facilitate dialogues with Pacific representatives, CROPs, CSOs and the diplomatic corps around the upcoming SIDS4 Summit next month.

ENDS