Communication and engagement
Communication about the High Level Dialogue and workshop was undertaken directly with
participants through bilateral meetings and email communication. This provided for direct
communication with stakeholders and the ability to respond directly to questions.
Public information about the High Level Dialogue and workshop was provided through posts of
the NHRI’s Facebook page. This included posts in the lead up to the event and video-based and
photo-based posts on each day of the discussions. These posts received high levels of
engagement and were shared by partner organisations and other stakeholders.
The NHRI also issued a press statement about the High-Level Dialogue and workshop, which
received local media coverage. The Government of Samoa also issued a separate press
statement.
Information and resources from the High-Level Dialogue and workshop, including the Outcome
Statement, were published on the NHRI’s website, once approved by participants.
Lessons learned
What worked well?
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Design of the NHRI-IGM Project, which equipped NHRI staff with the knowledge and
skills to engage in dialogue with IGMs and government and civil society stakeholders,
develop resources on human rights and climate change, and identify opportunities for
collaboration
Relationships with civil society, which ensured the experiences of communities
vulnerable to climate change could be shared directly with government
Relationships with IGMs, including SPREP and PCCC, who provided technical and
logistic support to ensure the delivery of a successful event
Opportunities for networking through connections of the APF, SPREP and SPC,
including with the Fiji Council of Social Services, who shared insights on the experience
of relocating ‘at risk’ communities in Fiji.
What could be done differently?
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Crowded presentation agenda, which could have been reduced to ensure sessions
finished on time
Shared facilitation, to manage the workload and ensure a diversity of voices across
the High-Level Dialogue and workshop
Competing meetings, scheduled by other organisations, which meant some Chief
Executive Officers were no longer able to attend High-Level Dialogue.
Ongoing engagement
Planning and delivering the High-Level Dialogue and workshop provided the NHRI with an
opportunity to deepen its relationships with key Pacific intergovernmental mechanisms working
on climate change and the right to a healthy environment, most notably SPREP and PCCC.
This activity – the first of its kind for the NHRI – will lead to other cooperative activities in Samoa,
as evidenced by the NHRI being invited to open a training workshop convened by SPREP on
human rights and climate change, with a focus on the rights of women and girls.
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