Workshop for SIDS on the marine biological diversity beyond areas of national jurisdiction (BBNJ) process
The Government of Belgium together with UNESCO-IOC co-organized a workshop as part of the third Preparatory Committee on marine biological diversity beyond areas of national jurisdiction (BBNJ) held from March to April 2017.
Photo: (from left to right) Ms. Sunema Simati (First Secretary, Permanent Mission of Tuvalu to the United Nations), Mrs. Lilian Leuelu (First Secretary, Embassy of Tuvalu to Belgium and the EU), Ms. Anna Main (First Secretary, Embassy of Samoa to Belgium and the EU), Mrs. Miriama Betham-Malielegaoi (Counsellor, Permanent Mission of Samoa to the United Nations)
The workshop was held in Oostende and Brussels from 7th to 9th of March and was attended by representatives of SIDS with a special interest and expertise in the BBNJ process. The theme of the workshop was aptly titled “Healthy Oceans, Resilient Islands” and was focused on capacity development and technology transfer related to various areas of BBNJ such as environmental impact assessments, marine genetic resources and marine protected areas. Participants had the opportunity to discuss at length capacity building needs and priorities of SIDS related to biodiversity and oceans. In addition to discussing BBNJ, participants also exchanged views and lessons learned on the challenges that the SIDS are currently facing because of climate change.
Samoa was represented at the workshop by Mrs. Miriama Betham-Malielegaoi, Counsellor of the Permanent Mission of Samoa to the United Nations and Ms. Anna Main, First Secretary of the Embassy of Samoa to Belgium and the EU.
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