Social development, health, women and youth are the themes of the Small Islands Developing States Conference in Apia this afternoon.
More than 3,000 delegates are there, and it's hoped partnerships to lift the Pacific and other small islands out of poverty will be made.
Mary Baines is there.
"Leaders will discuss how access to sexual and reproductive health, family planning and contraception can be improved. Also on the agenda is non-communicable diseases, which the United Nations has said is creating a human, social and economic crisis across the Pacific. It says gender inequality, low women's participation, limited economic opportunities and the gender wage gap are issues of great urgency. Panel members include the UNDP administrator, Helen Clark, and the Director General of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community, Colin Tukuitonga. 70 partnerships relating to social issues have been struck between NGOs, governments and the private sector so far this week. They include a United Nations Task Force on Non-Communicable Diseases for the Pacific, and 'FarmBiz Youth', which provides young farmers with business skills."
Photo: RNZ / Mary Baines
