In Nuku'alofa, civil society leaders from Australia, Papua New Guinea, Cook Island, Samoa, Niue, Kiribati and Tonga.
"Partnering for a More Equitable Sustainable Future."
CIVIL society leaders from around the South Pacific region met in Nuku'alofa on August 12-13 to try an ensure that the views of the Pacific's Civil Societies are heard in the 2009 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in November.
The meeting is discussing a theme "Partnering for a More Equitable Sustainable Future."
Organised by the Commonwealth Foundation and the Civil Society Forum of Tonga, the consultation was conducted by Elizabeth Marsh, a Senior Officer of the Commonwealth Foundation with a consultation team.
The consultation was opened by the Secretary for Foreign Affairs Va'inga Tone at the Janfull International Dateline Hotel on August 12.
A press statement from the Civil Society Forum of Tonga said the two-day event brought together civil society leaders from Australia, Papua New Guinea, Cook Island, Samoa, Niue, Kiribati and Tonga.
The topics discussed ranged from Human Rights; Financial Crisis and Economic Development; Environment and Climate Change, Gender; Health and HIV/AIDS, Peace and Conflict; Creativity and Innovation; and Youth and Media.
Trinidad and Tobago
The Commonwealth Foundation is organising regional consultations to ensure that the views of civil society from different regions are included in the process and heard during the Commonwealth Heads of States Meeting in November in Trinidad and Tobago.
The Heads of Government will bring together Heads of States from 53 members of the Commonwealth including the Pacific countries.
