Solomon Islands Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Her Excellency (H.E) Jane Mugafalu Kabui Waetara, delivered a statement on the appraisal of the United Nations Global Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking in Persons.
She spoke on behalf of the Pacific Islands Forum members during the High-level Meeting of the United Nations General Assembly which was held on 24 November 2025 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.
In her statement, Ambassador Waetara reaffirmed the Forum members’ commitment to the principles of the Global Plan of Action to combat trafficking.
She emphasized that trafficking in persons in the Pacific is a growing threat that undermines security, hinders development, and violates human dignity.
Ambassador Waetara noted that trafficking encompasses not only the movement of persons but also exploitation, including forced labor, abuse of migrants, and sexual exploitation, particularly of women and children.
She further highlighted that trafficking in persons intersects with other transnational crimes, including illicit drug trafficking, cybercrime, and financial fraud.
Ambassador Waetara stressed that the Pacific is increasingly being targeted not only as a transit point but also as a destination for these crimes.
She highlighted the region’s collective response, as reflected in the Boe Declaration, the Pacific Regional Strategy for Combating Transnational Organized Crime, and the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent.
The Forum called for stronger partnerships with the United Nations system, including the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the International Organization for Migration (IOM), and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), to support Pacific regional efforts in addressing these challenges.
She also urged UN Member States to recognize the unique vulnerabilities of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and ensure that global frameworks respond effectively to their realities.
–MFAET PRESS
