“Mr President, peace and security cannot be separated from human rights. Vanuatu remains deeply concerned about reports of serious human rights violations affecting indigenous Papuans in West Papua.
United Nations special procedures have also raised concerns regarding indigenous rights, displacement cultural rights, environmental impacts and the treatment of human rights defenders in Papua. The call from the Pacific Forum leaders for the UN Human Rights Commissioner visit to West Papua remains unheeded and needs to be action.
Mr President, Vanuatu reaffirms its unwavering support for the decolonization of Kanaky New Caledonia, which remains a non-self-governing territory under the purview of the United Nations.
We reiterate the inalienable right of the indigenous Kanak people to self-determination and call for a peaceful, inclusive, transparent and credible process consistent with the charter of the United Nations and relevant General Assembly resolutions.
We remain concerned by the persistent socio economic disparities affecting the Kanak people, including inequalities in employment, education, income and access to economic opportunities. These long standing structural imbalances continue to constrain the full and equitable enjoyment of economic, social and cultural rights by indigenous kanaks.
Notwithstanding the territory's considerable natural resources and economic potential.
Reports from the Evelyn case, supported by independent assessment, point to the enduring effects of economic marginalization and uneven development, which may be understood as forms of structural violence insofar as they limit meaningful participation in an inequitable benefit from the territory's development.
Addressing these disparities is essential to fostering social cohesion and advancing a just, inclusive and sustainable decolonization process. In this regard, Vanuatu calls for the full implementation of relevant United Nations resolutions on the question of New Caledonia and encourages continued engagement and constructive dialogue among all stakeholders including the administrative power and the representatives of the people.
We further reaffirm the important role of the Special Committee on Decolonization and the Fourth Committee in advancing the realization of self-determination and and ensuring that the rights, aspirations and interests of the Kanak people remain at the centre of decolonization process.
Mr President, at the end of August, the Vanuatu government initiated proceedings against France before the International Court of Justice concerning sovereignty over Umaenupne and Umaeneg islands, or Matthew and Hunter, as they called in English, and the maritime boundaries between Vanuatu and New Caledonia.
These islands are integral part of Vanuatu's territory. Grounded in customary governance, long standing historical connections indigenous ownership and is seen as part of our duty as ancestral custodians to protect and preserve.
We recognise France as a steadfast champion of the international rules based order and under the leadership of President Macron, a strong supporter of international judicial institutions, France has stood alongside Vanuatu in advancing global climate action, including through its support for initiatives before the International Court of Justice.
We greatly value this partnership and France leadership on issues of international importance. It is in the same spirit of mutual respect and commitment to international law that we respectfully invite France to consent to the jurisdiction of the court.”
Pacific Islands Forum
Pasifika Comms
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