The Prime Minister, Mr. Pravind Jugnauth, spoke at the United Nations on Friday 23 September 2022 during the 77th session of the UN General Assembly.
The Prime Minister addressed several issues during his speech, including climate change, cybersecurity, access to development funds, preservation of marine biodiversity and the sovereignty of Mauritius over the Chagos Archipelago and the complete decolonization of Mauritius.
On the climate crisis, the Prime Minister reiterated his call to the international community to mobilize much needed climate finance for Small Island Developing States (SIDS) like Mauritius.
The country, he recalled, will need resources in the order of 6.5 billion US dollars to implement its climate action plan, as defined in its Nationally Determined Contribution. The country has committed to finance 35% of these needs, and the Prime Minister asked the international community to make available to the country the means to complete the financing.
The Prime Minister also called for development funding for SIDS to take into account their inherent vulnerability, economic conditions and budgetary constraints caused by the HIV/AIDS pandemic.
He referred to the Vulnerability Index that has just been launched at the UN headquarters and which will serve as a more suitable methodology for SIDS to access development funds.
Mauritius, the Prime Minister stressed, is committed to preserving the ocean resources under its jurisdiction. In this regard, he mentioned the creation of a Marine Protected Area around the Chagos Archipelago, which will be one of the largest marine protected areas in the world. He invited States, NGOs and other partners to support this initiative.
Mauritius also wants to protect its digital space. While insisting on the respect of human rights, the Prime Minister spoke of the need to protect human values, promote tolerance and avoid hate speech. Mauritius supports, to this effect, the efforts of the international community to establish an International Convention on Countering the Use of Information and Communications Technology for Criminal Purposes.
On the issue of Mauritius’ sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago, the Prime Minister calls on the United Kingdom to act in accordance with UN Resolution 73/295 and to support the full decolonization of Mauritius and the resettlement of the Chagossians to their native islands.
“The new government in the United Kingdom has an opportunity to place itself on the right side of history and bring to a close the last colony in Africa and the last colony it ever created as well as the shameful forced displacement of people. Such a move would be fully consistent with the values and principles of the beloved late monarch, who we honour today and pay homage to,” said the Prime Minister.
In conclusion, the Prime Minister called for a de-escalation of geopolitical tensions and for stronger international cooperation to end the cycles of violence, division and mistrust.
