Transnational organised crime and counter terrorism, illicit movement of drugs, weapons and people, border control training, unexploded ordnance, Sexual and Gender Based Violence and domestic violence, conflict prevention are just some of the many issues affecting Pacific island countries that senior government officials, regional law enforcement, legal and CROP agencies, and international organisations will discuss during the Forum Regional Security Committee (FRSC) meeting already underway at the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS) in Suva, Fiji.
The FRSC is the Forum’s principal regional security meeting, providing advice to Forum Leaders on security and governance issues.
“Central in any discussion on regional security is the reality that many of the challenges and threats that continue to undermine the basic stability of our member countries are external in nature,” said Tuiloma Neroni Slade, Secretary General of the Forum Secretariat.
“It is therefore imperative that our countries continue to strengthen national law enforcement agencies and regional cooperation, as well as political motivation to respond to threats posed by transnational crimes and organised crime groups.”
The annual gathering allows Forum Member countries and stakeholders to discuss regional security and governance issues, coordinate regional policies and responses, and promote cooperation between Members and law enforcement, legal and CROP agencies and stakeholders.
“Contemporary security issues have become more complex, more challenging, and more sophisticated. We must focus on the region’s traditional law enforcement and compliance priorities, we can expect that new challenges will always test and expand the Committee’s agenda. There is need, therefore, to adopt forward thinking and innovative approaches to ensure effective achievement of the Forum Leaders’ vision for a peaceful, secure and prosperous region for our people,” said FRSC Chair, H.E Mr Patterson Oti, High Commissioner of Solomon Islands to Fiji.
The meeting concludes on 5 June after which the FRSC will make recommendations to the annual Forum Officials Committee (FOC) meeting to be held next month.
Coordinated by the Political Governance and Security Programme, the FRSC’s annual meeting draws representatives from Forum countries, representatives of regional law enforcement, legal and CROP agencies, as well as international organisations.
FORUM SECRETARIAT