The Minister of Internal Affairs, Hon Sinaitakala Tu’itahi, led Pacific leaders on the final day of the Pacific Child Wellbeing Summit at the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Secretariat, pushing for stronger protections for children across the region.
The three-day summit, co-hosted by PIF and UNICEF Pacific, brought together ministers and senior officials from 17 Pacific nations to address child welfare challenges, including education, healthcare, and protection from violence.
PIF Acting Secretary General Desna Solofa stressed the urgency of adapting to changing global conditions. “We can all agree that the world our children are growing up in is significantly different from that we experienced,” said Solofa. “These shifting dynamics, and evolving global challenges, require all of us to adapt how we approach children’s education, health, safeguards and well-being.”
UNICEF Pacific’s Representative, Jonathan Veitch, highlighted the economic and social benefits of prioritizing child protection. “Investing to protect children is not only the right thing, but also the smart thing to do,” said Veitch.
The summit’s outcomes will feed into regional policies, aligning with the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent to ensure children’s wellbeing remains a top priority.
