UN75 celebrations in Rodrigues

At the invitation of Rodrigues Regional Assembly, the UN Resident Coordinator Ms Christine Umutoni was on mission to Rodrigues where she participated in various events organized with support of UN agencies UNDP, UNFPA and UNESCO.

She delivered a speech at Launching of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Committee at the Rodrigues Regional Assembly (RRA) and activity supported by UNDP. The SDG Committee is an advisory and cross-party body which will act as a think-tank and provide monitoring and oversight on the implementation of SDGs. This is a welcome development as the UN celebrates its 75th anniversary.

She hailed the Assembly for involving the youth and giving them a chance  to be part of the decision making and including them at all levels. “The future is now, the future is you and it’s time for action” she said.

In collaboration with the Arts and Culture Division, Commission for Youth of the RRA, the United Nations family also organized a dialogue and debate with over 50 young people at the youth center supported by UNFPA.  In the context of the UN 75th anniversary Rodriguan youth shared their views inter alia, on the changes they would like to see on their island and in the world under the theme “shaping our future together.  

We want safe water, we want a green Rodrigues, we see a world without poverty, a world with gender equality and no discrimination of any kind, we are ready to play our part!” said the representatives of the youth during the dialogue.

The Chief Commissioner who graced the occasion emphasized the role of youth in the implementation of the SDGs and hence in national building. He encouraged the youth to be productive and self-reliant, to promote products made in Rodrigues, ensure food security by getting involved in local farming. “There will be no future if we do not involve the youth today”, was the main message by most people who intervened.

Celebrations for UN 75th anniversary continued where the Commissioner of Arts and Culture, Ms. Marie Rose de Lima Edouard and all invited guests participated in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Monument of Sega Tambour to pay tribute to bearers of sega tambour, a very rich cultural heritage legacy. The sega tambour is, inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

The ceremony was followed by a vibrant cultural show of sega tambour performance.