This media statement was originally published by Hon. Su'a William Sio, MP (New Zealand)

Fijian parliamentarians to be asked to ratify Arms Treaty

Labour’s Pacific Island Affairs spokesperson Su’a William Sio will  ask Fijian parliamentarians to join and ratify the Arms Trade Treaty when he visits Fiji this week.

“Su’a William Sio is attending the Fijian Parliamentarians Forum on the sustainable development goals as a guest of the Fijian Speaker, Dr Jiko Luveni.

“Fijian Parliamentarians will be asked to take up a strong and positive leadership role in the Pacific region and sign up and ratify the Arms Trade Treaty as soon as possible.

"Ratifying and implementing the Arms Trade Treaty sends a very strong message to the global community that Fiji and the Pacific are committed to maintaining and sustaining peace.

"This is the kind of positive message that gives confidence to those countries who are trading partners with Fiji and who provide aid and development assistance. It encourages long term cooperation with these partners towards achieving Fiji's sustainable development goals.

“In 2013, the South Pacific Forum welcomed its members who had signed the Treaty and encouraged other island states to sign up to it.

“To date, only Samoa, New Zealand and Australia have signed and ratified the Arms Trade Treaty. Pacific Island states that have signed the Treaty but not yet ratified it, include Kiribati, Nauru, Palau, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu,” says Su’a William Sio.