The Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) has strengthened its bid for re-election to the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) through a partnership agreement signed with the Pacific Community (SPC). The agreement formalised SPC's support for RMI's campaign, highlighting a shared commitment to advancing human rights in the Pacific region through increased participation in the international human rights treaty body system.
The agreement was signed by the Republic of the Marshall Islands Ambassador to Fiji, His Excellency Junior Aini and SPC’s Deputy Director-General, Dr Paula Vivili. Under the partnership, SPC will provide funding, technical assistance, strategic guidance, and advocacy support to bolster RMI's campaign efforts in New York and Geneva.
The RMI government and SPC have a long-standing history of collaboration on human rights issues, including health, oceans, climate justice, gender equality, and disability rights.
This agreement marks a significant milestone in SPC's continued support towards all its member countries in amplifying Pacific voices within the international human rights system.
The support provided by SPC through this agreement will leverage RMI's unique perspective and experience to lead global human rights initiatives at the UNHRC and SPC's efforts to contextualise the international human rights system by having Pacific Island countries represented on human rights treaty bodies.
RMI will host the Triennial Conference of Pacific Women and the Pacific Ministers for Women Meeting this July in Majuro. The meetings bring together Pacific women across all sectors to reflect on progress towards gender equality at national and regional levels under the Pacific Platform for Action on Gender Equality and Women's Human Rights 2018-2030 and agree on regional political positions on gender equality.
