Honiara, Solomon Islands — The voices of Pacific youth took center stage at Friendship Hall on Wednesday, 10 September 2025, as Josie-Anne Ashley, General Secretary of the Solomon Islands National Youth Congress, delivered a heartfelt address during the Commemoration Ceremony for the Adoption of the Blue Pacific Ocean of Peace Declaration.
Standing before Pacific Islands Forum Leaders, dignitaries, and international guests, Ashley spoke not just as a youth leader, but as the voice of villages, islands, and families across the region. Her words painted a clear picture of what peace means for the next generation, from safe and thriving communities to the urgent fight against climate change, calling on leaders to transform the declaration from a statement of intent into a living commitment for the future of the Pacific.
Read Josie-Anne Ashley’s address below:
Gudfala Afternoon, Your Excellencies, Distinguished leaders and guests, my fellow Pacific brothers, sisters and friends,
Name blo me Josie-Anne Ashley, and me serve osem General Secretary of the Solomon Islands Youth Congress.
Today, as we commemorate the Blue Pacific Ocean of Peace Declaration, I am honored to stand before you all, not just as a youth leader and representative, but as the voice of our villages, our islands, and our families—feeling the waves of change lapping at our shores.
Honourable leaders, this moment calls us to listen deeply and act together in the true Pacific Way.
What does the Ocean of Peace mean to us, the youth of the Pacific?
It is the gentle lullaby of ocean waves cradling our children to sleep, not the roar of rising seas swallowing our homes.
It is our grandparents’ stories shared around the fire, unbroken by shadows of wars not ours, nor environmental scars.
Peace – is our families fishing in clean waters, our youth dreaming boldly in thriving communities, and our people standing tall, united against the storms that threaten us from beyond our shores.
It is harmony in our hearts, security in our homes, and protection for our ocean and lands—our lifeblood.
Yet, this declaration rises from an ocean of challenges: climate devastation, nuclear legacies, the destructive remnants of war, whispers of militarization, human rights cries within our region, and the pull of great powers testing our unity.
Our communities have spoken respectfully through forums and declarations, urging our leaders to weave these concerns into action—ensuring sovereignty, accountability, and true partnership.
As one voice, we say: “We cannot have an Ocean of Peace unless every single community lives in peace.”
For us youth, this is our plea: let this declaration be more than words on a page—let it be the anchor that holds our Pacific family together.
We will not wait in the shadows. Pacific youth will rise with the tide, advocating for climate justice, our voices echoing in global courts to demand accountability for every millimetre of sea rise that steals our future.
We will continue to stand against nuclear dumping and protect our seas and lands through our ambassadors and alliances. From mangroves planted with our elders to talanoa circles in our villages, we will build our islands’ peace—stone by stone, wave by wave—inspired by the churches’ call for a “peace-full Pacific.”
Our role is to bridge generations, honouring the wisdom of our elders and leaders while igniting the fire in our youth and communities.
As we paddle our Pacific vaka through stormy seas, we must encourage each stroke as one family—strong, resilient, unbreakable.
Leaders, Your Excellencies, we are the custodians of this Ocean. Whatever is decided, youth will carry it forward, own it, and reap its benefits.
But to paddle sturdier, we must be healthy and strong. Our youth need access to education to navigate these challenges, mental health support to ease our anxiety, resources to combat the growing threat of drugs and substance abuse, and opportunities to overcome unemployment that jeopardizes our livelihoods. Above all, we need a seat at the table to shape decisions that affect us and our communities.
Only then can we row as one resilient family, empowered to safeguard our future.
A child in Tuvalu pleaded at the recent PNA Leaders Summit, “Please save the ocean and the tuna for us.”
On this significant day, as we affirm our commitment to the Ocean of Peace Declaration, Pacific youth join in amplifying this vital message: our decisions must go beyond economics to protect our people, cultures, and seas for generations to come. We stand united with our Pacific Islands Forum Leaders to turn this pledge into reality.
On behalf of the youth of Solomon Islands and the wider Pacific, I present a gift to the Honourable Prime Minister – Chair of the 54th Pacific Island Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting:
This Island Tuna is a gift to you and our Pacific Island leaders. It symbolizes our gratitude and recognition for your leadership in taking this initial stroke—the Ocean of Peace Declaration.
It also reflects our commitment to ensuring our shared ocean, our home, remains peaceful, embodying our resilience and dedication to the Blue Pacific 2050 Vision – an Ocean of Peace.
Tagio tumas.
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[Josie-Anne Ashley]
