1. MAURITIUS STRATEGY & SIV PLANNING MEETING BEQUIA 2005 Declaration of the Civil Society Forum, 6-9 January 2005 SIDS INTERNATIONAL MEETING

2. CIVIL SOCIETY PROCESS National- Regional- International National- Regional- International Assessing, Reviewing & Sharing on BPoA Assessing, Reviewing & Sharing on BPoA Focus on Priority Issues Focus on Priority Issues Consensus on Recommendations Consensus on Recommendations NOTE: Implementation not satisfactory NOTE: Implementation not satisfactory

3. VISION A more equitable world A more equitable world A world: A world: - More human - Genuinely democratic - Human beings full participants - Determine their own destinies

4. CALL FOR ACTIONS Government Natural Disasters Pledge for reconstruction of stricken areas by Tsunami based on principles of equitable & participatory sustainable development Pledge for reconstruction of stricken areas by Tsunami based on principles of equitable & participatory sustainable development Welcome debt freeze & call for cancellation of all debt Welcome debt freeze & call for cancellation of all debt

5. Natural Disasters Establish instruments & mechanisms that operationalise early warning system & disaster mitigation Establish instruments & mechanisms that operationalise early warning system & disaster mitigation

6. Agriculture Recognition of the right of our people to food security and sovereignty Recognition of the right of our people to food security and sovereignty

7. Marine Resources Sustainable use of marine resources & marine biodiversity Sustainable use of marine resources & marine biodiversity Appropriate training & tools for the fishing communities who are the stewards and custodians of these resources Appropriate training & tools for the fishing communities who are the stewards and custodians of these resources

8. Renewable Energy Develop & accelerate renewable and clean energy programmes Develop & accelerate renewable and clean energy programmes

9. Health Health and Education to be recognised as human rights Health and Education to be recognised as human rights

10. Biodiversity Implementation of adequately funded and effective strategies for biodiversity conservation & invasive species management. Implementation of adequately funded and effective strategies for biodiversity conservation & invasive species management. Comprehensive ban on the patenting of all life forms & review past patents Comprehensive ban on the patenting of all life forms & review past patents

11. Participatory Processes Institutionalisation of participatory processes at all levels of decision making & implementation; Institutionalisation of participatory processes at all levels of decision making & implementation; Ensuring inclusiveness & realization of full human and environmental rights Ensuring inclusiveness & realization of full human and environmental rights Communities must be at the core of policy making & sustained investment Communities must be at the core of policy making & sustained investment

12. International Standards Ratify all core ILO Conventions & to ensure strict adherence to the international standards Ratify all core ILO Conventions & to ensure strict adherence to the international standards

13. Nuclear Proliferation Cessation of nuclear proliferation, transportation & transhipment of hazardous, radioactive & nuclear materials Cessation of nuclear proliferation, transportation & transhipment of hazardous, radioactive & nuclear materials

14. Militarisation Closure of all foreign military bases on SIDS territories & the restoration and return of those lands to the SIDS concerned. Closure of all foreign military bases on SIDS territories & the restoration and return of those lands to the SIDS concerned.

15. AOSIS AOSIS to adopt a formal structure AOSIS to adopt a formal structure

16. COMMITMENT TO ACTIONS BY CIVIL SOCIETY Partnership Commitment to work with SIDS Governments & development partners to advance the implementation of the Mauritius Strategy. Commitment to work with SIDS Governments & development partners to advance the implementation of the Mauritius Strategy. Ensure institutionalization of the effective participation of all stakeholders in determining policy at all stages Ensure institutionalization of the effective participation of all stakeholders in determining policy at all stages Develop benchmarks & indicators of implementation Develop benchmarks & indicators of implementation Encourage faith-based communities to play a more active role in the implementation of the Mauritius Strategy Encourage faith-based communities to play a more active role in the implementation of the Mauritius Strategy

17. Trade & Globalisation Set up immediately mechanisms for the protection of SIDS’ natural resources & markets and their people from the adverse effects of globalisation and trade liberalisation. Set up immediately mechanisms for the protection of SIDS’ natural resources & markets and their people from the adverse effects of globalisation and trade liberalisation. Commit ourselves to fostering fair trade, protection of consumer rights & promoting south-south cooperation. Commit ourselves to fostering fair trade, protection of consumer rights & promoting south-south cooperation. Call for the review of rules & agreements of WTO that adversely affect the lives of people in SIDS Call for the review of rules & agreements of WTO that adversely affect the lives of people in SIDS

18. Trade Call for SIDS to be compensated for the negative effects of trade liberalisation & that the benefits be shared by the citizen without imposition of any conditionalities Call for SIDS to be compensated for the negative effects of trade liberalisation & that the benefits be shared by the citizen without imposition of any conditionalities

19. Technologies Identification & adoption of technologies that are appropriate & reflect SIDS’ realities & vulnerabilities. Identification & adoption of technologies that are appropriate & reflect SIDS’ realities & vulnerabilities.

20. Natural Disasters Establish new or strengthen existing mechanisms to address natural and man made disasters Establish new or strengthen existing mechanisms to address natural and man made disasters

21. Climate Change Ratification of the Kyoto Protocol, call for the sharing of technologies & information, promotion of appropriate technologies to aid SIDS in mitigating & responding to disasters Ratification of the Kyoto Protocol, call for the sharing of technologies & information, promotion of appropriate technologies to aid SIDS in mitigating & responding to disasters

22. Culture Assure & promote the proper identification, protection, promotion & packaging of cultural heritage including indigenous knowledge. Assure & promote the proper identification, protection, promotion & packaging of cultural heritage including indigenous knowledge. Commit ourselves to creating a world with strong cultural values, eliminate violence in any form, eradicate discrimination & promote equality of gender & youth empowerment Commit ourselves to creating a world with strong cultural values, eliminate violence in any form, eradicate discrimination & promote equality of gender & youth empowerment

23. Agriculture Support the precautionary principle underlying the responsible use of agricultural inputs, use of GMOs while protecting & enhancing livelihood, and small scale & traditional agriculture and indigenous species. Support the precautionary principle underlying the responsible use of agricultural inputs, use of GMOs while protecting & enhancing livelihood, and small scale & traditional agriculture and indigenous species.

24. Water & Sanitation Re-affirm that access to safe & affordable water and sanitation are basic human rights Re-affirm that access to safe & affordable water and sanitation are basic human rights

25. Women’s Rights Reaffirm & recommit to the principles of women’s rights as Human Rights Reaffirm & recommit to the principles of women’s rights as Human Rights

26. Special Fund Establish & make operational a SIDS Civil Society Implementation Fund Establish & make operational a SIDS Civil Society Implementation Fund

27. Conclusion of Declaration Commit ourselves to creating a world where social justice & equity prevails Commit ourselves to creating a world where social justice & equity prevails

28. Plan of Action The Formal structuring of a SIDS Civil Society Network The Formal structuring of a SIDS Civil Society Network The popularisation of the Mauritius Strategy at community level The popularisation of the Mauritius Strategy at community level The development of benchmark and indicators for implementation The development of benchmark and indicators for implementation Develop parallel implementation progress report for submission to the UN Develop parallel implementation progress report for submission to the UN

29. Challenges Structuring Structuring Development of a coherent approach that add value to other international processes while ensuring that the specificities of SIDS are given due consideration. Development of a coherent approach that add value to other international processes while ensuring that the specificities of SIDS are given due consideration. Thank You Thank You