2014: International Year of SIDS

By: Sonja Agata Bian

What are SIDS?
Small Island Developing States, also known as SIDS, are a specific group of developing
countries, sharing various characteristics. The first time the need for such classification was
identified, based on their common features regarding environment and development, was at the
44th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) in 1989. The session was followed by the
United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (Earth Summit) in 1992 in Rio de
Janeiro, Brazil.
The importance of raising such awareness was due to the fact that the common characteristics
which, among others, include vulnerabilities and challenges that SIDS are facing, are of
international concern. Two years after the conference in Brazil, another important meeting on
that topic, took place in Barbados, more precisely, the Barbados Program of Action for the
Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States. Under Article 3 of Annex II of the
Barbados Declaration, it was stated: The Rio Declaration on Environment and Development 2/
identifies human beings as being at the centre of concerns for sustainable development.
Development initiatives in small island developing States should be seen in relation to both the
needs and aspirations of human beings and their responsibility towards present and future
generations. Considering the fact that, only the combined population of SIDS is 63.2 million
people, and the worlds total population is somewhat greater, it is not difficult to conclude that
many human beings lives are at stake due to this matter.
Prior to 2014
One of the most important meetings International UN Meeting that took place in Mauritius, which
resulted in issuing a political declaration, The Mauritius Declaration and developing a program
of action, Mauritius Strategy.
The fact that the meeting was attended by representatives from 114 countries, inspired the UNs
Secretary General himself, at the time, Kofi Annan, to comment on the importance such great
and numerous attendance: This shows a renewed interest and commitment on the part of the
entire international community for the issues of concern to these states -- from environmental
vulnerabilities to small economies, remoteness from world markets, high energy costs and
waste management problems.
The Mauritius Strategy recognized issues that SIDS face, e.g. natural and environmental
disasters, which then lead to social and financial difficulties. Some of the misfortunes were
caused by the preceding Indian Ocean tsunami and typhoon season in the Caribbean and
Pacific, others are the result of an ongoing struggle caused by the nature itself, e. g. climate
changes and sea- level rise. The proposition mentioned in the Strategy, was to discuss specific
issues regarding SIDS during the following-up Conference on Disaster Reduction in Kobe
(Japan).
The Strategy also emphasized that, due to their size, SIDS experience difficulties in integrating
into the global economy. In result, the Mauritius Declaration called upon financial institutions, to
raise their attention regarding SIDS structural disadvantages. Thus, true importance of the
document is in the wish to include SIDS in the decision-making process of the World Trade
Organization achieved by a supportive international environment promoting SIDS participation
in that process.
The more recent events prove that the ideas that came out of the Mauritius Meeting are alive
and in the process of continuous implementation and development.
The Celebratory Year
Year 2014 was announced as The International Year of Small Island Developing States, and its
purpose was raising awareness of the challenges that SIDS are facing; as well as the many

events, e.g. meetings, discussions, conferences, with a special notice of SIDS 2014 Global
Conference, that are taking place in order for the issues to be discussed and the current
situation to be improved; to highlight the up- to- date achievements and, most importantly, to
celebrate the culture and the overall potential that SIDS have. The event of the greatest
importance for the celebratory SIDS year was the third International Conference on the Small
Island Developing States in Apia, Samoa. That is where the head of the State and Government
and high-level representatives met from 1 to 4 September. The theme of the Conference was
"The sustainable development of small island developing States through genuine and durable
partnerships." In order to implement sustainable development and eradicate poverty, the
Conference resulted in the adoption of Samoa Pathway, which is comprised of social,
economic and environmental of sustainable development. However, somehow, the most
noticeable importance was given to the economic dimension (at least, in, the expected,
accordance to the International Labor Organizations Outcomes from the Third International
Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS)). The growth of economy would then
trigger the improvement of the remaining two dimensions- social and environmental. It has been
said that the international community will strive to invest more in education, entrepreneurial and
vocational skills training in wish to achieve a greater employment rate in SIDS. In addition to
that, the green economy, and its specific areas- ecotourism, agritourism and cultural tourism
were said to be promoted. Having those goals in mind, it would be necessary for SIDS to bring
special attention to bettering the infrastructure, not only its obvious parts, e.g. ports, roads,
transportation, electricity and power generation, but also information and communications
technology infrastructure. To summarize, the Conference suggested ways in which SIDS could
achieve their, long awaited, true growth- sustainable development; through tackling economy,
based on creating innovative environmentally sound businesses, as well as improving the
SIDS infrastructure, which would then lead to a greater employability.
Future of SIDS
Although SIDS were initially united on the basis of common issues, as the time passes by and
the awareness of their situation raises- through meetings, conferences, documents, resolution,
actions calls, media support- more individuals, groups, organizations and, even, nations are
getting involved in finding and reaching the solution (and more than just one solution) in order to
allow SIDS to use their great potential to the fullest and for it to result in true sustainable
development. Not only of SIDS, but, of the international community at large.