Chair, Excellencies,
 
It is an honor for Fiji to address this High-Level Conference of Middle-Income Countries and is significant as we mark the 80th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations, and continue the collective discussion on how MICs can accelerate sustainable development in a rapidly evolving global environment.

Ladies and gentlemen, Fiji is at a pivotal moment in its development journey. As a middle-income country, we must accelerate sustainable growth while ensuring that our most vulnerable—including children, persons with disabilities, survivors of domestic violence, and older persons—are protected and supported. Today, I highlight Fiji’s strategic approach and the role of international cooperation in building a resilient and inclusive future.
 
Key Challenges
1. Climate Change Impact – Rising sea levels and extreme weather threaten coastal communities, agriculture, and tourism. Adaptation remains urgent and costly.
2. Growing Inequality and Poverty – Disparities persist, especially in rural areas, where climate-related disasters exacerbate economic vulnerabilities.
3. The Digital Divide – Unequal access to technology limits education, business, and innovation opportunities, widening gaps between urban and rural populations.
4. Debt Sustainability – Fiji has taken on significant debt to fund infrastructure and disaster recovery. Balancing economic resilience with financial sustainability is a pressing challenge.
5. Protecting Children from Violence – Legal reforms, family support, and community-based interventions are needed to prevent harm and ensure safer environments.
6. Addressing Domestic Violence – Strengthening legal protections, expanding survivor support services such as counselling and shelters, and promoting gender equality remain vital to creating safer communities.
7. Advancing Disability-Inclusive Policies – Ensuring access to education, employment, and healthcare for persons with disabilities through inclusive policies and infrastructure.
8. Supporting Older Persons – As Fiji’s population ages, the need for comprehensive elderly care grows. Older persons face challenges in healthcare access, social inclusion, and financial security, requiring targeted policies and stronger community support systems.
 
Strategic Actions
Fiji is taking decisive steps to address these challenges:
·Investing in Climate-Resilient Infrastructure – Strengthening renewable energy, sustainable urban planning, and adaptation measures.
·Enhancing Digital Inclusion – Expanding internet access and digital literacy programs, particularly in rural areas.
·Strengthening Social Protection Systems – Improving healthcare, education, strengthening of social protection schemes to be gender responsive, and employment policies to promote resilience and inclusivity.
·Promoting Sustainable Agriculture – Encouraging climate-smart farming techniques to enhance food security and economic sustainability.
·Reforming Child Protection Laws – Prioritizing family-centered support models and prevention strategies over punitive policies.
·Raising the Minimum Age of Criminal Responsibility – Increasing the age from 10 to 14 years for a more humane juvenile justice system.
·Strengthening Domestic Violence Prevention – Development of the National Action Plan to Prevent Violence against women and girls that focuses on prevention as well as expanding support services, shelters, and legal protections for survivors.
·Ensuring Disability Inclusion – Improving infrastructure accessibility, promoting economic opportunities, and integrating disability rights into national policies.
·Expanding Elderly Care Programs – Enhancing healthcare services, financial support mechanisms, and fostering social inclusion for older persons through community-driven initiatives and targeted government interventions.
 
Role of Development Partners
To accelerate Fiji’s progress, international development actors must:
·Provide Targeted Financial Assistance – Concessional loans and grants for climate adaptation, social protection, and elderly care initiatives.
·Facilitate Knowledge Sharing – Collaborating on global best practices in sustainability, child protection, disability rights, domestic violence prevention, and elderly care.
·Support Policy Innovation – Assisting the government in designing inclusive economic and social policies.
·Strengthen Climate Action Partnerships – Enhancing access to climate finance and advancing adaptation strategies.
·Ensure Social Inclusion Accountability – Establishing minimum care standards, robust monitoring frameworks, and comprehensive support for children, persons with disabilities, domestic violence survivors, and older persons.
 
Fiji remains committed to sustainable development, as outlined in its National Development Plan (NDP) for 2025-2029 and Vision 2050. I would also like to add that Fiji is conscious of the vital role that our local civil society organizations, development partners, regional agencies, and community leaders have played in our progress.
 
Our pledge to end violence against children, address domestic violence, champion disability rights, and support older persons reinforces our dedication to an inclusive and just society. Through strategic policies and global cooperation, we will build a resilient, equitable, and sustainable future for all.