MSG Presses UN Human Rights Council to Advance Long-Standing Call for West Papua Visit

Geneva| 25 July 2026: The Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) Secretariat has formally presented Pacific and MSG leaders' call for a United Nations human rights mission to West Papua and Indonesia's Papuan provinces during the 19th session of the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (EMRIP) in Geneva.

The presentation sought to advance a long-standing request by Pacific leaders for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to visit the region. The call was first endorsed by Pacific Islands Forum leaders in 2019, reaffirmed by MSG leaders at their 2023 summit in Port Vila, and repeated by both the Pacific Islands Forum and MSG during leaders' meetings in 2025.

EMRIP is an advisory body of the UN Human Rights Council that provides expert guidance on the implementation of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

Acting Director General Ilan Kiloe said the Geneva engagement marked an important step in implementing decisions made by Pacific and Melanesian leaders.

"It is a small but significant step towards the implementation of the leaders' decision to advance the voices of Melanesian peoples on the international stage and demonstrates the organisation's strong commitment to promoting justice, human rights and the rights of Indigenous Peoples," Kiloe said.

He added that the Secretariat would continue building on its advocacy for Indigenous rights following its engagement in the International Court of Justice's advisory opinion process on states' obligations relating to climate change.

During the Geneva mission, the MSG delegation also held meetings with senior UN officials and experts, including representatives of EMRIP, the UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD), UN treaty bodies, the UN Voluntary Fund for Indigenous Peoples and the UN Youth Office.

The visit concluded with a briefing for MSG ambassadors and permanent representatives to the United Nations in Geneva, hosted by Vanuatu's Ambassador, Sylvain Kalsakau, at the Pacific Islands Forum Permanent Mission.

Indonesia maintains that Papua is an integral part of the country and has consistently stated that it is committed to development and protecting the rights of all its citizens. Calls by Pacific leaders for a UN human rights visit remain under discussion within UN human rights mechanisms.

: Acting Director General Ilan Kiloe, MSG Secretariat team, and MSG Ambassadors during the Geneva briefing hosted at the PIF Permanent Mission. MSG Secretariat

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PM RABUKA CONGRATULATES DR. ANNA NAUPA ON HER APPOINTMENT AS DIRECTOR GENERAL OF THE MSG

Prime Minister and Chair of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG), Hon. Sitiveni Rabuka, has extended his warm congratulations to Dr. Anna Naupa of Vanuatu on her appointment as the new Director General of the MSG Secretariat.

Prime Minister Rabuka welcomed the appointment as a significant milestone for both Vanuatu and the wider Melanesian family, noting that Dr. Naupa brings a wealth of experience, strong leadership credentials, and a deep understanding of the region’s development priorities.

“As Chair of the MSG, I congratulate Dr. Anna Naupa on her appointment and wish her every success as she assumes this important leadership role,” Hon. Rabuka said.

“Her appointment reflects the confidence of MSG members in her ability to guide the Secretariat and advance our shared vision for a stronger and more prosperous Melanesia.”

The Prime Minister acknowledged the historic nature of the appointment, marking the first time a ni-Vanuatu has been selected to lead the MSG Secretariat since the organisation’s establishment in 1986.

“Dr. Naupa’s appointment is also an important achievement for women across Melanesia and the Pacific. Her success demonstrates the growing contribution of women in leadership and serves as an inspiration to future generations throughout our region.”

Prime Minister Rabuka reaffirmed the MSG’s enduring commitment to the principles upon which it was founded — solidarity, cooperation, respect, and support for the aspirations of Melanesian peoples.

“Under Dr. Naupa’s leadership, we look forward to building on these achievements while remaining true to the values and vision that have guided the MSG for four decades.”

Dr. Naupa thanked the MSG and secretariat for her appointment, saying she is ready to serve and fulfill her duties for the benefit of Melanesia.

MSG, "THE POWERHOUSE OF THE SUBREGION"

SUVA, FIJI (18 July 2025): The Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) could be the powerhouse of the region as a platform to advance issues of national interest for Melanesia.

This was agreed at a recent discussion between the MSG Secretariat led by the Acting Director General, Ilan Kiloe, and Fiji’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, led by Permanent Secretary, Dr Raijeli Taga.

PS Dr Taga said the MSG, being resource-rich in terms of population, land mass and natural resources can be very effective “if all of MSG’s constituent body meetings in arts & culture, trade, environment, sports and security, among others, are coordinated well.

“It (MSG) is already a powerhouse but we need to better plan and coordinate properly if we are to see issues from these meetings advanced into the PIFS system and elevated to a level where instructions can be made and actions taken,” she said.

Dr Taga stated, “there is a lot of responsibility on us to advance these initiatives further and use MSG to our advantage”.

“In doing so we can provide the opportunities for the other groups in the region and we must proceed to implement some of the outcomes by the Leaders.

“Fiji’s intent is not to go with the flow but to grow the MSG,” she added.

Acting Director General of the MSG Secretariat, Ilan Kiloe, firstly congratulated Fiji’s chairmanship, adding that he fully concurred with the directions which the Chair is ready to take. 

“Indeed, MSG is a strength in the Pacific and we must ensure that what we are doing fits into the ambitions of the wider Pacific,” ADG Kiloe said.  

He suggested that the MSG look at areas which it is able to influence and advance for instance climate change, since the MSG participated at the ICJ, amplifying the Pacific’s call for climate justice during the ICJAO proceedings on Climate Change.

ADG Kiloe said another area the MSG could take the lead on is Security, considering that Melanesia’s instability is dominated by ethnic conflicts and tribal wars, hence the need for a specifically designed strategy just for Melanesia.

The MSG Security Strategy, following the green light from Leaders last month, is expected to be endorsed at the upcoming MSG Police Minister’s Meeting this September.

The MSG Secretariat will also identify issues to update the Chair, prior to the upcoming Pacific Island Forum Leaders Meeting in Honiara.

Caption: Fiji's Permanent Secretary Foreign Affairs, Dr Raijeli Taga & Acting Director General of the MSG Secretariat, Ilan Kiloe, with members of their respective teams.