PINA

Marking the 20th World Day Against the Death Penalty, two UN-appointed independent human rights experts on Monday issued a statement recalling that under international law, capital punishment is permitted only “in very limited circumstances”. “The reality remains that in practice it is almost impossible for States to impose capital punishment while meeting their obligations to respect the human rights of...

By Sanjeshni Kumar The Pacific Community (SPC) is supporting the region's transition to climate friendly and cleaner energy as fuel prices continue to rise globally. “Our world is facing an energy crisis, the cost of fuel has skyrocketed globally, and we in the Pacific are not immune to the shocks of increasing costs,” said Mereseini Rakuita, SPC Principal Strategic Lead- Pacific...

The Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations (PACER) Plus comes into force today, 60 days after Vanuatu has notified the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Tonga as the depository, on 12 August. Article 9 of Chapter 15 (Final Provision) of the agreement states that the agreement shall enter force for an accession country 60 days after it has notified the...

If rising seas engulf the Maldives and Tuvalu, will those countries be wiped off the map? And what happens to their citizens? The prospect is no longer science fiction as global warming gathers pace, posing an unprecedented challenge to the international community, and threatening entire peoples with the loss of their land and identity. “This is the biggest tragedy that a...

World Rugby Chairman Sir Bill Beaumont Monday officially opened the Fijian Drua’s home base. The opening was done in the presence of Fijian Government leaders, World Rugby CEO Alan Gilpin, stakeholders, sponsors, staff and Swire Shipping Fijian Drua players. Located on Voivoi Road, Legalega Industrial Area in Nadi, the Fijian Drua Home Base will house high performance and recreational facilities...

Fijian Prime Minister and Fiji Rugby Union President Voreqe Bainimarama has met with the World Rugby Chairman Sir William (Bill) Blackledge Beaumont, in Nadi. In welcoming Sir Bill back to our shores after his last visit in 2016, Prime Minister Bainimarama conveyed the Fijian Government and the people of Fiji's appreciation to the World Rugby Chairman for his support to...

Heads of government haven’t been invited to attend an important biodiversity summit in Canada, raising concerns nature is slipping down the global agenda amid fraught geopolitical relations. The biodiversity conference, or Cop15, is a moment for countries to agree on a global framework to halt the destruction of nature by the end of this decade. Negotiators meet in Montreal, Canada,...

Pacific delegates are counting down to the UNFCCC COP27 in the city of Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, keen to negotiate positions on the different thematic areas, to give our Pacific communities the best chance for 1.5 to stay Alive outcome. Following the Pacific Small Island States (PSIDS) Preparatory Meeting in Apia on 26 – 29 September 2022, the negotiators from 14...

Authorities in Egypt must ensure civil society can safely and fully participate in the COP27 UN climate change conference taking place there next month, a group of UN independent human rights experts said on Friday, expressing alarm over restrictions ahead of the summit. This new wave of reprisals follows years of persistent crackdowns on civil society and human rights defenders,...

The UN Human Rights Council adopted a resolution Friday aimed at assisting the Marshall Islands in its efforts to secure justice for people suffering from the impact of the United States' former nuclear testing programme in its territory. “We have suffered the cancer of the nuclear legacy for far too long and we need to find a way forward to...