So if you have not already heard, the first UN World Oceans Conference is expected to convene at the UN headquarters in New York City from June 5-9 and focus on ways to support the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14 (SDG 14) — to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development.
This is an exciting event for Fiji and the Pacific region for two main reasons.
Firstly, this SDG 14 was a result of a push by Small Island Developing States (SIDS) to have oceans as an SDG by itself.
Secondly, Fiji and Sweden are co-hosting the event.
Preparation in Fiji has included consultations at various levels involving community representatives, civil society organisations (CSOs) and NGOs, private sector and relevant government ministries.
For the Bua Urban Youth (BUY) network, this was an opportunity like many other consultative processes we had participated in to raise core issues we had been advocating for and was not limited to youth and gender participation, comprehensive community consultation and the use of free prior informed consent in relation to extractive industries coming to operate on our vanua.
We realised that more than just raising our voices and drawing attention to injustices, it was also important to show up and utilise spaces convened by governing bodies to make a more meaningful impact.
Since January this year, BUY network has tried to consistently participate and it has been rather interesting or challenging depending on your perspective.
When you consider Fiji’s geography, it has a land area of 18,272 square km in comparison with a much larger ocean area of 1,290,000 square km. Its fisheries GDP contribution in 2007 was $US56.2 million ($F118.49m).
A population of 834,278 as of the 2007 census and with our national policy defining youth as between the ages of 15-35 years, making up a large part of our population you would think that it would naturally translate to more youth engagement and participation.
However, we are the only youth group participating in this entire process. Among larger and more experienced CSOs, technical bodies and technical experts inputting into our Oceans Policy Framework that will be announced in New York City, we were a group of youths, representing our vanua and our province coming to the table with our truths grounded in our experiences and that of those we represent.
This really begs the question, why isn’t there more engagement from youth?
There are many reasons, and for us, an example on the complexities of this issue can be drawn from our own experience. As part of the process, voluntary commitments were requested from participating organisations, groups and even individuals.
BUY network eagerly volunteered to do work in communities on the principles of free, prior, informed consent, something it has been working on for the past four years, and an article for another day.
Technicalities aside, when the draft document was produced, our voluntary commitment had been dropped. The reason that was given was that in the matrix they had developed, “they simply did not know where to put us”.
While already a small number in terms of participation, when we do participate and give input, it is often difficult to fit us into the mould that is already there.
This in no way is meant to lay blame or shame, but really to highlight something that can be strengthened. And for BUY network, our view is that, the only way to reshape the landscape into something that is more inclusive and hopefully stronger is to continue to engage and participate.
Not knowing “where to put us” does not mean we shy away, it should be a challenge to engage more in the spaces convened and find a place.
Engaging with the current actors and help them help us determine this because no one will save your seat for you.
You need to go in and get it yourself and hopefully, eventually, we will find our place.
So that is what we have done, from community level, to engaging in different groups right up to national consultations. Now there is an opportunity for BUY to take our participation right up to this international arena in NYC.
We believe we have been recognised enough to be nominated a space, and there is still much work to be done.
There is now a greater responsibility to participate effectively, not only for our validation but also for other youths engaging for other indigenous groups that wish to participate, for gender groups that feel that they may not be able to engage in these spaces because they do not know their place in the current landscape.
Everyone and everything is interconnected and interdependent, whether it is acknowledged or not.
Let’s all participate.
* Alisi Rabukawaqa is a member of the Bua Urban Youth network. Views expressed are hers and not of this newspaper.
