14 September 2011: The Director-General of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Irina Bokova, hosted a Thematic Debate on small island developing States (SIDS), outlining UNESCO’s ongoing and planned contributions towards the implementation of the Mauritius Strategy and in preparation for the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD, or Rio+20).

The debate was held on 14 September 2011, at UNESCO headquarters in Paris, France. Bokova highlighted the interdisciplinary work undertaken under the UNESCO Intersectoral Platform on SIDS. Her address was followed by a discussion, during which participating member States, especially SIDS representatives, requested UNESCO’s continued focus on undertaking action on the ground in support of SIDS priority issues, such as ocean observation and disaster risk reduction (DRR), climate change education, youth, and the role of information and communications technologies (ICTs) in development. Member States commended the work accomplished by UNESCO through its Intersectoral Platform on SIDS, as well as the important role played by the SIDS Committee of Representatives, which serves as a forum for exchange and coordination between SIDS Permanent Delegations to UNESCO. [IISD RS Sources]