REMARKS: Opening Remarks at International day of Persons with Disabilities - Secretary General Baron Waqa

•    The New Zealand High Commissioner to Fiji, Excellency Ms Charlotte Darlow;
•    The Australian High Commissioner to Fiji, Excellency Mr Ewen McDonald;
•    United Nations Regional Coordinator, Mr Dirk Wagener;
•    President of the Fiji Disabled Peoples’ Federation, Mr Setareki Macanawai;
•    Chief Executive Officer of the Pacific Disability Forum, Ms Sainimili Tawake;
•    Members of the disability community 
•    Distinguished guests, representatives of governments and civil society, ladies and gentlemen,

1.    Ekamowir omo!  Warm Pacific greetings to you all.

2.    Happy International Day for Persons with Disabilities – Today we celebrate the great contributions of persons with disabilities building inclusive communities and advancing regional resilience.

3.    It is my great honour to welcome you all to the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat as we gather to reflect and act on our commitment to building an inclusive, resilient, and equitable Blue Pacific.
4.    This year, we recognise and celebrate leadership and inclusion through the lense of the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent, a vision that places the empowerment of all individuals, including persons with disabilities at its very heart.

5.    This regional vision emphasises that the empowerment of persons with disabilities is not a standalone objective—it is interwoven across all seven thematic areas of the 2050 Strategy.  It also resonates in this year’s theme of Amplifying the Leadership of Persons with Disabilities for an Inclusive and Sustainable Future.

6.    Guided by the 2050 Strategy, our approach is deliberate and dual:
i.    targeted initiatives through Regional Collective Actions that directly address the rights and priorities of persons with disabilities; and
ii.    Mainstreaming Disability Inclusion— across Strategic Pathways to ensure that regional and national actions integrate and uphold the principles of inclusion and equity.
7.    These commitments reflect the Pacific’s unwavering determination to leave no one behind as we forge our collective future.
Recognising Leadership and Supporting Inclusion
8.    Across our region, persons with disabilities are leading change in every sphere—from community development to climate action, governance, and education. Their contributions are a testament to the resilience and strength of our Pacific communities yet are often not acknowledged.

9.    To achieve true equity, we must ask ourselves: How can we better support this leadership? How can we ensure that their immense contributions are recognised? How can we address the barriers—physical, systemic, and social—that limit opportunities for persons with disabilities to thrive?

10.    The answer lies in partnership collective action —working together to create enabling environments, amplify voices, and ensure that policies and actions reflect the priorities of persons with disabilities. Ensuring that we honour the call of persons with disabilities of “Nothing about us without us.”

A Vision for Alignment and Progress
11.    As many of you are aware, the current version of the Pacific Framework for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities will conclude in 2025.  This offers a timely opportunity to assess our progress, realign our priorities, and strengthen the synergy between the Framework and the 2050 Strategy.

12.    We will ensure this is an inclusive process, and your participation will be vital. It is through the leadership and lived experiences of persons with disabilities that meaningful solutions will be identified to chart a path forward – towards a truly inclusive 2050 for the Blue Pacific Continent. 
Conclusion
13.    As we observe this important day, let us celebrate our progress and recommit to the critical work ahead. Disability inclusion is not a token effort nor an annual acknowledgement; it is a continuous commitment - a cornerstone of sustainable development, a testament to our shared humanity, and a legacy we must leave for future generations.

14.    Together and guided by our long-term vision, let us ensure that persons with disabilities are not only included in the Pacific story but are key authors of its next chapters.

15.    Thank you, and I look forward to the discussions and insights that will unfold today.

16.    Vinaka vakalevu. Tubwa Kor.

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