The Fiji Council of Social Services has expressed its support for the Oceans of Peace Declaration, welcoming its ambition but emphasizing that its realization hinges on practical and consistent actions. Executive Director Vani Catanasiga highlighted the pivotal role NGOs play in the initiative, ensuring that vulnerable communities receive the support and attention they need. She underscored the importance of action beyond symbolism, urging governments and NGOs to be intentional and consistent in their efforts to make the declaration beneficial for Pacific peoples.
Catanasiga expressed concerns about the challenges in practicality and implementation, advocating for stronger coordination and accountability to translate the framework into real outcomes. The declaration aims to position the Pacific as a zone of peace, but achieving this vision requires commitments that go beyond mere intentions.
Minister for Policing Ioane Naivalurua echoed the importance of the initiative, stating it aims to enhance the Pacific’s security landscape while building on existing regional mechanisms such as the Boa Declaration and the 2050 Strategy of the Blue Pacific Continent. He reiterated that the declaration’s success depends on sustained engagement and practical implementation to safeguard peace, stability, and prosperity across the region.
Past discussions, notably led by Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka, have emphasized that the signing of the Ocean of Peace Declaration is only a beginning, highlighting the importance of turning the declaration into definitive action. Prime Minister Rabuka has advocated for commitments aligning the declaration with broader regional frameworks such as the Boe Declaration and the Blue Pacific Strategy. These efforts are central to a long-term vision for addressing regional security, development, and self-determination within the Pacific Islands.
The Ocean of Peace Declaration incorporates guiding principles like non-coercion and respect for international law, freedom of navigation, environmental protection, and peaceful resolution of disputes, all intended to foster stability and unity in the region. Rabuka and other Pacific leaders view the declaration as not just a symbolic peace pact but as a framework for addressing the complex challenges faced by the region, including climate change, economic stability, and geopolitical pressures.
Through this declaration, Pacific nations are committing to a future centered on peace, targeting not just the absence of conflict but the establishment of a guiding principle deeply rooted in Pacific customs and traditions. This initiative marks a hopeful step towards regional resilience and cooperation by 2050 and aims to deliver tangible benefits for generations to come.