# Kiribati - United States Department of State

- Kiribati HomeReportsBureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor2023 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices&#8230;Kiribati				hide	document.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded", function(event) {	if(window.jQuery) {		jQuery( document ).ready(function() {			if (jQuery(".bc_middle").hasClass("collapse")) {				jQuery(".bc_ellipse").click(function(){					jQuery(".bc_hide").toggleClass("visible");					jQuery(".bc_middle").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_ellipse").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_content").toggleClass("noflex");					jQuery(".block_breadcrumbs_content").toggleClass("noflex");				});				jQuery(".bc_hide").click(function(){					jQuery(".bc_hide").toggleClass("visible");					jQuery(".bc_middle").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_ellipse").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_content").toggleClass("noflex");					jQuery(".block_breadcrumbs_content").toggleClass("noflex");				});			} else {				jQuery(".bc_ellipse").hide();			}		});	}});																							2023 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: Kiribati																																					Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor																																																																																							Download Report																																																							Translations																																																																 In this section										/																							EXECUTIVE SUMMARY																																													EXECUTIVE SUMMARY																															Section 1. Respect for the Integrity of the Person																																																									a. Arbitrary Deprivation of Life and Other Unlawful or Politically Motivated Killings																																																																											b. Disappearance																																																																											c. Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, and Other Related Abuses																																																																			Prison and Detention Center Conditions																																																																																																																		d. Arbitrary Arrest or Detention																																																																			Arrest Procedures and Treatment of Detainees																																																																																																																		e. Denial of Fair Public Trial																																																																			Trial Procedures																																																								Political Prisoners and Detainees																																																																																																																		f. Transnational Repression.																																																																											g. Property Seizure and Restitution																																																																											h. Arbitrary or Unlawful Interference with Privacy, Family, Home, or Correspondence																																																																																	Section 2. Respect for Civil Liberties																																																									a. Freedom of Expression, Including for Members of the Press and Other Media																																																																			Internet Freedom																																																																																																																		b. Freedoms of Peaceful Assembly and Association																																																																											c. Freedom of Religion																																																																											d. Freedom of Movement and the Right to Leave the Country																																																																											e. Protection of Refugees																																																																																	Section 3. Freedom to Participate in the Political Process																																																									Elections and Political Participation																																																																																	Section 4. Corruption in Government																															Section 5. Governmental Posture Towards International and Nongovernmental Monitoring and Investigation of Alleged Abuses of Human Rights																															Section 6. Discrimination and Societal Abuses																																																									Women																																																																											Systemic Racial or Ethnic Violence and Discrimination																																																																											Children																																																																											Antisemitism																																																																											Trafficking in Persons																																																																											Acts of Violence, Criminalization, and Other Abuses Based on Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity or Expression, or Sex Characteristics																																																																											Persons with Disabilities																																																																																	Section 7. Worker Rights																																																									a. Freedom of Association and the Right to Collective Bargaining																																																																											b. Prohibition of Forced or Compulsory Labor																																																																											c. Prohibition of Child Labor and Minimum Age for Employment																																																																											d. Discrimination (see section 6)																																																																											e. Acceptable Conditions of Work																																																																																																							EXECUTIVE SUMMARY				There were no significant changes in the human rights situation in Kiribati during the year.Significant human rights issues included credible reports of: serious problems with the independence of the judiciary; laws criminalizing consensual same-sex sexual conduct between adults, although the laws were not enforced; and the existence of the worst forms of child labor.The government took credible steps to identify and punish officials who may have committed human rights abuses.																														Section 1.													 Respect for the Integrity of the Person												    																																																a. Arbitrary Deprivation of Life and Other Unlawful or Politically Motivated Killings										There were no reports the government or its agents committed arbitrary or unlawful killings, including extrajudicial killings, during the year.																																				b. Disappearance										There were no reports of disappearances by or on behalf of government authorities.																																				c. Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, and Other Related Abuses										The constitution prohibited such practices, and there were no reports that government officials employed them.																Prison and Detention Center Conditions						There were no significant reports regarding prison or detention center conditions that raised human rights concerns.Administration: Authorities did not report receiving any credible complaints of abuse or undertaking any investigations into alleged abuse in the year to October.Independent Monitoring: The government permitted monitoring visits by independent human rights observers.																										d. Arbitrary Arrest or Detention										The law prohibited arbitrary arrest and detention and provided for the right of persons to challenge the lawfulness of their arrest or detention in court. The government generally observed these requirements.																Arrest Procedures and Treatment of Detainees						In some cases, magistrates issued warrants before authorities made arrests. Authorities had to bring persons taken into custody without a warrant before a magistrate within 24 hours, or within a reasonable amount of time when arrests took place in remote locations. Authorities released many individuals charged with minor offenses on their own recognizance pending trial and routinely granted bail for many offenses. The law required that authorities inform arrested individuals of the charges against them and of their rights, including the right to legal counsel during questioning and the right not to incriminate themselves. Two police officers always had to be present during the questioning of detainees, who also had the option of writing and reviewing statements given to police. Laws and regulations on arrest and detention procedures were generally respected.Detainees received prompt access to legal counsel. All arrested persons facing serious criminal charges and others needing legal advice but unable to afford a lawyer received free counsel from the Office of Legal Services, although access to legal services in the outer islands was limited.																										e. Denial of Fair Public Trial										The constitution provided for an independent judiciary. Judicial independence and impartiality, however, was compromised when, in June 2022, the government suspended the country’s chief justice and one of two High Court justices. All three were foreign nationals on contract. In October 2022, the government appointed the attorney general as the new chief justice and, in March appointed two “commissioners” to serve as judges on the High Court. Commissioners, who had the same responsibilities as a judge, were appointed at will by the president and could be removed at any time for any reason. Government opponents criticized these actions as interference with the judiciary.																Trial Procedures						The constitution provided for the right to a fair and public trial. The government’s suspension and dismissal of foreign nationals contracted to serve on the High Court and Court of Appeal, however, compromised the right to a timely trial, as trials were suspended from June 2022 until March 2023, when trials resumed following the appointment of two lawyers to the High Court.						Political Prisoners and Detainees						There were no reports of political prisoners or detainees.																										f. Transnational Repression.										Not applicable.																																				g. Property Seizure and Restitution										Not applicable.																																				h. Arbitrary or Unlawful Interference with Privacy, Family, Home, or Correspondence										The constitution prohibited such actions, and there were no reports that the government failed to respect these prohibitions.																																					Section 2.													 Respect for Civil Liberties												    																																																a. Freedom of Expression, Including for Members of the Press and Other Media										The constitution provided for freedom of expression, including for members of the press and other media, and the government generally respected this right.Media outlets were active and expressed a wide variety of views without restriction, although observers noted most views expressed did not oppose the government as most major media were state-owned, including Uekere, the weekly newspaper, Radio Kiribati, and Television Kiribati.																Internet Freedom						The government did not restrict or disrupt access to the internet or censor online content.																										b. Freedoms of Peaceful Assembly and Association										The constitution provided for the freedoms of peaceful assembly and association, and the government generally respected these rights.																																				c. Freedom of Religion										See the Department of State’s International Religious Freedom Report at  https://www.state.gov/religiousfreedomreport/.																																				d. Freedom of Movement and the Right to Leave the Country										The constitution provided for freedom of internal movement, foreign travel, emigration, and repatriation, and the government generally respected these rights.																																				e. Protection of Refugees										Access to Asylum: The law did not provide for granting asylum or refugee status, and the government had no established formal system for providing protection to refugees. The principal immigration officer had wide discretionary authority to permit foreigners to stay in the country.																																					Section 3.													 Freedom to Participate in the Political Process												    																						The constitution provided citizens the ability to choose their government in free and fair periodic elections held by secret ballot and based on universal and equal suffrage.																										Elections and Political Participation										Abuses or Irregularities in Recent Elections: National elections in 2020 were widely reported to be fair and free of abuses and irregularities.Participation of Women and Members of Marginalized or Vulnerable Groups: No law limited the participation of women or members of marginalized or vulnerable groups in the political process. Participation by women was low, largely due to perceptions of their role in society as caretakers and managers of the family.																																					Section 4.													 Corruption in Government												    																						The law provided criminal penalties for corruption by officials, but the government did not implement the law effectively. There were reports of corruption by public officials.Corruption: According to Transparency International’s Global Corruption Barometer:  Pacific 2021, nepotism and favoritism based on tribal and church ties were prevalent. The anti-corruption unit within the Public Service Office investigated complaints against senior officials but did not enforce the law effectively.For additional information on corruption in the country, please see the Department of State’s International Narcotics Control Strategy Report, which includes information on financial crimes.																											Section 5.													 Governmental Posture Towards International and Nongovernmental Monitoring and Investigation of Alleged Abuses of Human Rights												    																						Domestic and international human rights groups generally operated without government restriction to monitor or investigate human rights conditions or cases and publish their findings. Government officials were generally cooperative and responsive to their views.Government Human Rights Bodies: A Human Rights Task Force and a Human Rights Unit in the Ministry of Justice provided human rights training and monitoring and coordinated implementation of human rights treaties.																											Section 6.													 Discrimination and Societal Abuses												    																																																Women										Rape and Domestic Violence: Rape of women and men was a crime, with a maximum penalty of life in prison; sentences typically were much shorter. Domestic violence was a crime. The law provided penalties of up to six months in prison for common assault and up to five years in prison for assault involving bodily harm. Police investigated rape and domestic violence allegations effectively and the judicial system prosecuted them appropriately.Domestic violence, often exacerbated by chronic alcohol abuse, continued to be a serious problem. Cultural taboos on reporting rape and domestic abuse, and police attitudes encouraging reconciliation rather than prosecution, existed.The government, in partnership with UN Women and development partners, offered training for police, public prosecutors, health workers, social welfare workers, education officials, elected officials, and nongovernmental organization workers to implement the law effectively.The police force had a Domestic Violence and Sexual Offenses Unit whose officers participated in a capacity-building program that provided training in handling such cases. Police ran a 24-hour hotline for survivors of sexual violence and domestic abuse. The government’s Strengthening Peaceful Villages program, a community-based intervention program, engaged most of the country’s population, which resided in South Tarawa. The Kiribati Women and Children Support Center maintained its support for women and children affected by violence, providing victims with counseling and referral services. The Support Center operated a second shelter for women and children on Kiritimati Island, the second most populous island in the country. The Ministry of Health operated a clinic at the main hospital in Tarawa for victims of domestic violence and sexual offenses.Other Forms of Gender-based Violence or Harassment: The law criminalized sexual harassment and set fines for those found guilty of the offense. No harassment reports were known to have been filed with police.Discrimination: The law prohibited discrimination based on gender in employment but not on other grounds. There were no legal restrictions against women in employment, to include restrictions on working hours, occupations, or tasks. Barriers such as the expectation that women should shoulder unpaid care work and lack of access to credit, however, impeded them from playing a more active role in the economy. There were no reports of government enforcing the law.Women had equal access to education. Property ownership rights were generally the same for men and women, but land inheritance laws were patrilineal, and sons often inherited more land than daughters. The citizenship law contained some discriminatory provisions. For example, the foreign wife of a male citizen acquired citizenship automatically through the marriage, but the foreign husband of a female citizen did not. Mothers could not confer nationality on their children.Reproductive Rights: There were no reports of coerced abortion or involuntary sterilization on the part of government authorities.There were no legal barriers or government policies that impeded access to sexual and reproductive health services. Conservative social and cultural attitudes inhibited access for some to the services.Access to contraception, as well as prenatal, obstetric, and postnatal care, was available from public health hospitals and centers, but health services were limited in outer islands. The Kiribati Family Health Association also offered mobile reproductive health clinic services, undertook public education campaigns, and provided information and counseling on family planning, although cultural and religious influences remained barriers to access and utilization of services.The government provided sexual and reproductive health services, including emergency contraception and postexposure prophylaxis, to survivors of sexual violence.																																				Systemic Racial or Ethnic Violence and Discrimination										Although there were no comprehensive legal protections against discrimination on the basis of race or ethnicity, discrimination on those bases in hiring and employment was illegal.The country was racially homogeneous. According to the 2020 census, the iKiribati population accounted for 95.7 percent of the population, with small minority groups including nationals of Tuvaluan descent.																																				Children										Birth Registration: The law required birth registration within 10 days. Children had to present a birth certificate to attend primary schools, but authorities did not strictly enforce this law.Child Abuse: The government and independent observers believed that child abuse, occasionally sexual, was a serious problem. Most observers believed physical abuse was related to the common use of violent disciplinary measures and affected up to 90 percent of children younger than 14. Authorities operated a helpline to respond to reports of violence against children.Child, Early, and Forced Marriage: The legal minimum age for marriage was 21, or 17 with the permission of a parent or guardian. The law was generally respected in urban areas; however, 18 percent of women age 20 to 24 reported that they were first married or in a union before age 18, and 2 percent reported they were first married or in a union before age 15.Sexual Exploitation of Children: The law prohibited the procurement of any person younger than 18 for the purpose of commercial sexual exploitation and prohibited using a child younger than 15 for commercial sexual exploitation. In both cases the maximum penalty was two years in prison. The minimum age for consensual sex was 15. Sexual relations with a girl younger than 13 carried a maximum penalty of life imprisonment, and sexual relations with a girl aged 13 to 14 carried a maximum penalty of five years in prison. The victim’s consent was not a permissible defense under either provision; however, in the latter case, reasonable belief the victim was 15 or older was a permissible defense. While this provision applied only to girls, male-on-male sexual exploitation of boys could be prosecuted under provisions against “unnatural” offenses (which covered both male and female survivors) and as acts of “gross indecency between males,” with maximum penalties of 14 and five years in prison, respectively. The penal code had no specific provision concerning child pornography. Enforcement of the law was weak and there were no reported investigations or prosecutions.																																				Antisemitism										There was no permanent Jewish community, and there were no known reports of antisemitic incidents.																																				Trafficking in Persons										There were no confirmed reports that traffickers exploited domestic or foreign victims in the country or that traffickers exploited victims from abroad.																																				Acts of Violence, Criminalization, and Other Abuses Based on Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity or Expression, or Sex Characteristics										Criminalization: Consensual sexual conduct between men was illegal, with penalties from five to 14 years’ imprisonment depending on the nature of the offense. There were no reports of prosecutions under these provisions. The existence of the sodomy law fostered stigma against all persons who engaged in homosexual acts, including lesbian and bisexual women, but the government did not enforce these provisions.Violence and Harassment: Although there was no media coverage or official confirmation, there were credible reports that a transgender woman was killed in September. Authorities identified a suspect, but a trial tentatively scheduled for December did not open.A local nongovernmental organization headquartered in Tarawa reported cases of violence or abuse against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or intersex (LGBTQI+) persons; however, fear of social discrimination or violence by family members and the community prevented reporting.Discrimination: The law prohibited discrimination by state and nonstate actors based on sexual orientation in employment. Otherwise, no antidiscrimination law existed to protect LGBTQI+ individuals. The law did not recognize LGBTQI+ couples and their families. There were no government reports of discrimination due to LGBTQI+ status, but the scope of discrimination was difficult to measure due to LGBTQI+ individuals’ fear of revealing their sexual orientation or gender identity, although observers noted that small numbers of men and women reported experiencing discrimination and harassment based on their sexual orientation.Availability of Legal Gender Recognition: Legal gender recognition was not available, and societal norms dissuaded transgender and nonbinary individuals from publicly discussing or expressing their gender identity.Involuntary or Coercive Medical or Psychological Practices: Human rights organizations reported that social, cultural, and religious intolerance led to recurrent attempts to “convert” LGBTQI+ individuals, particularly children, informally through family, religious, medical, educational, or other community pressures. There were no reports of intersex-related surgeries.Restrictions of Freedom of Expression, Association, or Peaceful Assembly: There were no legal restrictions on those speaking out about LGBTQI+ topics, such as so-called antigay propaganda laws or hate speech laws; there were no restrictions on the ability of LGBTQI+ organizations to legally register or convene public events. The LGBTQI+ community commemorated the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia in June.																																				Persons with Disabilities										There were no comprehensive legal protections for persons with disabilities, although the law prohibited discrimination in employment against persons with disabilities. The law did not define disability but prescribed a fine for anyone found guilty of the offense. The law was not enforced, and there were credible reports of discrimination in hiring and access to work sites against persons with disabilities.Public infrastructure and essential services did not meet the needs of persons with disabilities. Access to buildings, communications, and information for persons with disabilities was not mandated, and there were no specific accommodations for persons with disabilities.Most children with disabilities did not have access to education. The teacher’s college, seven schools in the outer islands, and the Ministry of Education headquarters were accessible for children and staff with physical disabilities.																																					Section 7.													 Worker Rights												    																																																a. Freedom of Association and the Right to Collective Bargaining										The law provided for the right of workers to form and join independent unions, conduct strikes, and bargain collectively. The government did not control or restrict union activities; however, unions had to register with the government. The law prohibited antiunion discrimination at the time of hiring and while employed but did not specifically provide for reinstatement of workers fired for union activity.The government effectively enforced the laws protecting freedom of association, collective bargaining, and the right to strike. Penalties for violations included fines or imprisonment and were commensurate with other laws involving denials of civil rights, such as discrimination. There were no reports of lengthy delays or appeal processes during dispute resolution, and the government regularly applied penalties against violators.The law allowed for compulsory arbitration in a wider range of cases than generally recommended in international standards. Similarly, the definition of “essential services,” in which the right to strike was limited, included a broader range of sectors than did international standards. Penalties for unlawful strikes in both essential and nonessential sectors included imprisonment and a fine.Employers generally respected freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining. The Kiribati Trade Union Congress claimed 3,000 members, including unions and associations for nurses, teachers, fishermen, and seafarers who were able to exercise their labor rights.In keeping with tradition, negotiations generally were nonconfrontational. There were no known collective-bargaining agreements and no instances reported of denial of the right to strike. There were no reports of antiunion discrimination.																																				b. Prohibition of Forced or Compulsory Labor										See the Department of State’s annual Trafficking in Persons Report at:  https://www.state.gov/trafficking-in-persons-report.																																				c. Prohibition of Child Labor and Minimum Age for Employment										See the Department of Labor’s Findings on the Worst Forms of Child Labor at  https://www.dol.gov/agencies/ilab/resources/reports/child-labor/findings .																																				d. Discrimination (see section 6)																																														e. Acceptable Conditions of Work										Wage and Hour Laws: The national minimum wage for employees of local businesses and companies was above the poverty level for those who received it. Most of the working population worked in the informal, subsistence economy where the law was not enforced. The Public Service Office set wages in the public sector, which comprised approximately 80 percent of employment in the formal economy.The law set the workweek at 40 hours. The law provided for paid annual holidays for all employees except casual workers and 12 weeks for maternity leave, but it left the determination up to individual employment contracts, which were then submitted to the Ministry of Employment and Human Resource for documentation. Public-sector employees worked 36.25 hours per week, with overtime pay required for additional hours. No law or regulation governed the amount of overtime an employee could work. Anecdotal information suggested that workers in the service and hospitality sector worked excessive hours.Occupational Safety and Health: The Ministry of Employment and Human Resource was responsible for enforcing basic occupational safety and health (OSH) standards; these were appropriate for the main industries in the country. Employers were liable for workers’ expenses related to on-the-job injuries. By law workers could remove themselves from situations that endangered their health or safety without threat to their employment. The ministry conducted labor inspections; there were no work-related injury complaints in the year to October. Violations of OSH law and regulations were common in the informal and private sectors. The ministry did not proactively identify unsafe conditions.Wage, Hour, and OSH Enforcement: The government generally enforced minimum wage and safety regulations in the formal sector, but enforcement of overtime regulations was weak. Penalties for violations included fines commensurate with those for similar crimes, such as fraud and negligence; however, it was not known whether penalties were applied against violators of minimum wage, overtime, and occupational safety and health laws. Inspectors had the authority to make unannounced inspections and initiate sanctions and the number of inspectors was sufficient to enforce compliance.An estimated 80 percent of the working population worked in the informal sector, involved in agriculture, fishing, food preparation and sales, and home-based activities. The government did not enforce labor standards in the informal economy.																																				    							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Respect for the Integrity of the Person																																							a. Arbitrary Deprivation of Life and Other Unlawful or Politically Motivated Killings																																																						b. Disappearance																																																						c. Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, and Other Related Abuses																																																				Prison and Detention Center Conditions																																																																																				d. Arbitrary Arrest or Detention																																																				Arrest Procedures and Treatment of Detainees																																																																																				e. Denial of Fair Public Trial																																																				Trial Procedures																																												Political Prisoners and Detainees																																																																																				f. Transnational Repression.																																																						g. Property Seizure and Restitution																																																						h. Arbitrary or Unlawful Interference with Privacy, Family, Home, or Correspondence																																																			Section 2. Respect for Civil Liberties																																							a. Freedom of Expression, Including for Members of the Press and Other Media																																																				Internet Freedom																																																																																				b. Freedoms of Peaceful Assembly and Association																																																						c. Freedom of Religion																																																						d. Freedom of Movement and the Right to Leave the Country																																																						e. Protection of Refugees																																																			Section 3. Freedom to Participate in the Political Process																																							Elections and Political Participation																																																			Section 4. Corruption in Government																Section 5. Governmental Posture Towards International and Nongovernmental Monitoring and Investigation of Alleged Abuses of Human Rights																Section 6. Discrimination and Societal Abuses																																							Women																																																						Systemic Racial or Ethnic Violence and Discrimination																																																						Children																																																						Antisemitism																																																						Trafficking in Persons																																																						Acts of Violence, Criminalization, and Other Abuses Based on Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity or Expression, or Sex Characteristics																																																						Persons with Disabilities																																																			Section 7. Worker Rights																																							a. Freedom of Association and the Right to Collective Bargaining																																																						b. Prohibition of Forced or Compulsory Labor																																																						c. Prohibition of Child Labor and Minimum Age for Employment																																																						d. Discrimination (see section 6)																																																						e. Acceptable Conditions of Work																																																									Tags																					Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor																								Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs																								Kiribati
- Digital Press Briefing with Daniel J. Kritenbrink, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs and Dr. Mira Rapp-Hooper, Special Assistant to the President and NSC Senior Director for East Asia and Oceania Daniel J. Kritenbrink, Assistant SecretaryBureau of East Asian and Pacific AffairsDr. Mira Rapp-Hooper, Special Assistant to the President and NSC Senior Director for East Asia and OceaniaMODERATOR:  Greetings from the U.S. Department of State’s Asia Pacific Media Hub.  I would like to welcome journalists today to the on-the-record briefing with Daniel J. Kritenbrink, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, and Dr. Mira Rapp-Hooper, Special Assistant to the President and National Security Council Senior Director for East Asia and Oceania.  The speakers will provide a readout on the U.S.-Pacific Islands Forum Summit.With that, let’s get started.  Dr. Rapp-Hooper, I’ll turn it over to you for your opening remarks.DR RAPP-HOOPER:  Thanks so much, and thanks to you all for being here this evening, this morning.  We’re glad to have the opportunity to read you out the President’s really consequential summit of Pacific Islands Forum leaders here in Washington just a few days ago, and thrilled to be joining my friend and colleague Dan Kritenbrink to do so.As you know, this week, leaders of the Pacific Islands Forum were all in Washington for the second-ever U.S.-Pacific Island Leaders Summit.  By all accounts, this was an extremely successful and productive visit for the PIF leaders and for the President.  I’ll start with a brief recap of the leaders’ engagements over the past few days, and then I’ll discuss in brief some of the key deliverables that were announced over the course of the summit before handing the floor over to Assistant Secretary Kritenbrink.In advance of the formal meetings that took place in Washington, we got our summit started early on Sunday when Pacific Island Forum leaders took a trip from New York on a special Amtrak train down to Baltimore.  In Baltimore, the leaders attended a Baltimore Ravens game, where they were recognized for their role as American friends in the Indo-Pacific.  They even made it onto the field, where they were recognized before the game began.After the game, they toured a Coast Guard cutter ship in the Baltimore Harbor, the USS Forward, and had a meeting and opportunity to exchange views with Commandant of the Coast Guard Admiral Linda Fagan on key issues to Pacific Island leaders, including combating illegal fishing and effectively managing maritime domains.Following the Pacific Island Forum leaders’ trip to Baltimore, the leaders came to Washington, where they were hosted by President Biden at the White House on Monday for the second-ever U.S.-Pacific Summit.  They also attended a climate roundtable hosted by Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry as well as a dinner hosted by Secretary Blinken and Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield about which Assistant Secretary Kritenbrink will say more in just a moment.On Tuesday, the leaders also met with members of the philanthropic community, U.S. businesses, and members of Congress.  We closed out the summit with a reception hosted by our friends at the Australian embassy, emphasizing the depths of our people-to-people ties.  And I look forward to Dan speaking to those engagements in a bit more detail very soon.At the summit with PIF leaders on Monday, President Biden reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to shared regional priorities and to deepening our cooperation, including to tackling the climate crisis, advancing economic growth, promoting sustainable development, countering illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, and expanding our people-to-people ties.Before getting into the deliverables that we unveiled on Monday, I’d first like to take a step back and recognize the milestones of engagement with PIF countries that we have passed over the course of the last couple of years.Just in the last year, we have opened new embassies in the Solomon Islands and Tonga in record time, thanks in no small part to the extraordinary work of our colleagues at the State Department.  We opened a USAID regional mission in Fiji and are returning the Peace Corps to the region after years of relative absence.  We are enhancing our engagement with the Pacific Islands Forum as the region’s leading institution, and we continue to expand U.S. cooperation and assistance programs throughout the region.At this year’s summit, we announced expanded ties with our recognition, our diplomatic recognition, of the Cook Islands and Niue, and the establishment of diplomatic relations with both of these Pacific Island nations.Since last year’s summit, this May, Secretary Blinken met with the Pacific Island Forum leaders in Papua New Guinea, and at this week’s summit, the Biden-Harris administration has continued to show that we are delivering on our promises.  All told, we have now announced a commitment to work with Congress towards over $8 billion in new funding and programs for the Pacific Island region.  And again, this is just in the last year.On Monday, President Biden announced a new slate of activities, including plans to work with Congress to request and provide nearly $200 million in new funding.  These programs seek to address the priority issues we hear about from Pacific Island leaders, including the climate crisis – which is existential for many of our Pacific Island friends – and we always stand shoulder to shoulder with them as they work to meet the challenge to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.The President on Monday also reaffirmed his commitment to the security of the Blue Pacific Continent, and to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, the United States has announced that it will provide over $11 million to bring cutting-edge maritime domain awareness technology to the Pacific through the Indo-Pacific Partnership for Maritime Domain Awareness to help improve the maritime picture and law enforcement information analysis and provision amongst our Pacific Island friends.We’re also delivering on our promise to invest in the prosperity of the region.  As the President has announced, we will invest an additional $40 million working with Congress to expand our Pacific Islands Infrastructure Initiative.  Through this initiative, we’re bringing technical assistance and project preparation work needed to identify commercially viable projects through partners in the U.S. Government, including the U.S. Trade and Development Agency.These are just a few of the key initiatives announced as part of our summit.  One more that I’d flag that we’re happy to go into during our question-and-answer period involves a new microfinance facility that will offer small and micro loans to Pacific Island businesses so that entrepreneurs there have the chance to thrive.  And these deliverables we are working towards illustrate the depths of our collaboration with the Pacific Islands and the promise of expanding our partnership for many years to come.As President Biden has said, the United States is and will long remain a proud Pacific nation.  And as a Pacific nation, the United States is here for the long haul and will continue to deliver on our promises to our partners in the region.I’ll hand the floor over to Dan to talk more about Secretary Blinken’s consequential engagements with the PIF leaders throughout the summit.  Dan, over to you.ASSISTANT SECRETARY KRITENBRINK:  Mira, thanks so much, and good evening, everyone.  I think, as my esteemed colleague Dr. Mira Rapp-Hooper has outlined, this was a tremendously successful summit that I think demonstrates further the breadth and depth of America’s commitment to the Pacific.  And Mira, I thought that was really a tremendous rundown of a momentous series of events related to the U.S.-Pacific Islands Forum Summit.I thought that I would focus my remarks a bit more narrowly on some of Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s significant engagements with the Pacific Island leaders here in Washington, and then also mention briefly the engagement involving the Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry’s meetings during the summit as well.As Secretary Blinken put it, our engagements were designed to show that we’re seizing on the possibilities of this moment to build a more secure, resilient, inclusive, and prosperous Pacific region.As Secretary Blinken also said on Monday night, the fundamental fact is this:  Our fates are tied together.  We’ve long been committed development partners to the Pacific Islands, and we’re excited to bring new energy and resources to the Pacific, working with partners in the Pacific Islands on our shared goal of meeting Pacific priorities and supporting Pacific institutions.We saw this last week, last Friday at the UN – at the end of the UN General Assembly High-Level Week, when Secretary Blinken hosted a Partners in the Blue Pacific ministerial in New York.  And at that meeting on Friday, we aimed to highlight the tremendous work we’ve done to advance more effective and efficient cooperation and engagement with our Pacific partners, designed to strengthen Pacific regionalism and to facilitate and encourage other partners and institutions to engage and consult with the Pacific.  And of course those efforts flowed nicely into the Pacific Islands Forum Summit itself, which began, as Mira indicated, on Monday.I think a clear sign of our commitment to the Pacific region came through the establishment of diplomatic relations with both Niue and the Cook Islands.  Following an announcement from President Biden earlier on Monday, Secretary Blinken hosted Niue Premier Dalton Tagelagi and Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown for two separate signing ceremonies here in the State Department Treaty Room to make these momentous occasions.  These historic announcements reaffirmed our joint commitments to deepen our cooperation as equal and sovereign partners, guided by respect, genuine engagement, and partnership.  We fully anticipate working even closer with Niue and the Cook Islands on our shared priorities, which include the climate crisis, renewable energy, Pacific regionalism, and good governance, among many others.Secretary Blinken then had the pleasure of joining the millennium compact corporation CEO Alice Albright and iKiribati President Taneti Maamau for a signing ceremony for an MCC-Kiribati threshold program grant agreement that will provide up to $29.1 million to promote safe, accessible, decent, and inclusive employment opportunities for Kiribati workers, both in Kiribati and across the region.  This will be the United States’ largest direct grant investment in Kiribati to date, and it is an agreement that we believe will deliver clear results and benefits to people in the Pacific Islands and solve real challenges to shape our future.I wanted to mention, also on Monday evening, Secretary Blinken hosted really a spectacular dinner here at the State Department in the newly renovated Benjamin Franklin Room, which was an opportunity for the Secretary and other leaders across the U.S. Government to meet with all of the Pacific Island leaders and to discuss in more detail ways that we can expand our cooperation in the future.  The Secretary was delighted to host the banquet with his co-host, Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield – of course, America’s Permanent Representative to the UN – and at the dinner, Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield announced that she will be America’s representative to the next Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Summit in November of this year.I think the final event of the summit, the two-day summit, for Secretary Blinken was his meeting with representatives from the Freely Associated States.  Namely, he met with Marshall Islands Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Ading, he met with Federated States of Micronesia President Simina, and with Palau President Whipps.  That was on Tuesday, late Tuesday afternoon.During the meeting, the Secretary took the opportunity to underscore the strong people-to-people ties and shared history underpinned by the Compacts of Free Association between the U.S. and these three Freely Associated States.  The Secretary commended the dignitaries for the progress in the negotiations on the compact-related agreements, which we believe signals a new era in our partnerships that will help advance a secure, free, and open Pacific.  And we look forward to further progress on these Compacts of Free Association agreements in the months to come.Finally, of course, climate change, as Mira indicated, was a major topic of discussions since it is such an existential challenge, and we recognize it, as our partners do, as the single greatest threat facing the Blue Pacific.Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry met with Pacific leaders on Monday to discuss the climate crisis and ocean resilience.  Secretary Kerry reiterated the United States’ new policy on sea-level rise and statehood that President Biden had earlier announced as well as new investments in strengthening early warning systems and sustainable development.So in the interest of time, why don’t I stop there.  I know that Mira and I will be delighted to take your questions.  Thanks.MODERATOR:  Thank you.  Thank you, Assistant Secretary Kritenbrink.  We’ll now turn it over to the question-and-answer portion of today’s briefing.  The first question will go to Ralph Jennings from the South China Morning Post in Hong Kong, who sent his question in advance:  “How does the recent U.S. engagement with the South Pacific help offset China’s economic influence in the region?”ASSISTANT SECRETARY KRITENBRINK:  Mira, do you want to take that one first or you want me to dive in?DR RAPP-HOOPER:  I’m happy to take that one, Dan.ASSISTANT SECRETARY KRITENBRINK:  Please.DR RAPP-HOOPER:  And I’ll turn to you in just a moment to add your thoughts.  Thanks for the question.  I would say just as a topline matter, when we’re working with our Pacific Island friends, we’re really not focused principally on China.  We’re focused on what the United States can offer as a likeminded partner to this group of countries.  And we are very focused on delivering positive, attractive alternatives to these countries that can help them and their people thrive.  But it’s really about what we stand for together alongside our Pacific Island partners, not about who or what we’re against.But with that in mind, I will note that, as the President announced, our $200 million in new programs for Pacific Island Forum nations do include some really consequential new programs that we believe are going to help our friends in the Pacific to generate the economic dynamism that they’re looking for to offset and combat climate change and to continue their recovery from the pandemic, where they were especially hard-hit.Just as a few examples, we’re stepping up our infrastructure efforts.  Specifically, as I mentioned, the President announced $40 million to new infrastructure projects in the Pacific Islands.  He also announced that the United States will be undertaking new submarine cable projects in the Pacific Islands to build secure, reliable connectivity amongst Pacific Island nations and to ensure that our friends there have the basic digital infrastructure that they need, like reliable, speedy internet on which so many businesses and individuals rely.  And of course, that submarine cable work builds on work we have been doing in recent years, including with the East Micronesia Cable, where we’ve already begun work to improve high-quality and more reliable secure communications for over 100,000 people in the Pacific Islands.  So infrastructure is a big part of our work.We are also delivering a new Millennium Challenge Corporation project with the Government of Kiribati, which is intended to advance economic growth in Kiribati in partnership with the International Labor Organization and American Councils of International Education to bolster and promote safe, accessible, and inclusive employment opportunities for Kiribati workers.Through the Quad, we are partnering with the Government of Palau to implement the deployment of a new ORAN network that is a next-generation, secure mobile network to help Palau get the secure connectivity that it needs.  And as we mentioned at the top of the call, the U.S. Trade and Development Agency is working throughout the Pacific Islands to identify through its technical work opportunities for more viable projects in the months and years to come.So this is just a sampling of the work that we’re doing to try to bring the economic tools we have to bear to help Pacific economies thrive, but I’ll hand it back to Assistant Secretary Kritenbrink to see what he might like to add.ASSISTANT SECRETARY KRITENBRINK:  Mira, that’s a brilliant answer.  I – all I could really do is foot-stomp what Mira has already said.  We approach the region from the perspective of advancing our affirmative agenda – the shared interests and values that we hold in common with our Pacific partners.That’s our focus, not any notion of focusing on a third party.  And as we often say, we have a regional strategy.  We’re focused on our affirmative agenda.  And I think if we continue to deliver benefits to our partners in the Indo-Pacific, I’m very confident and optimistic about our future together.In particular, as Dr. Rapp-Hooper has indicated, our entire approach to the Pacific is predicated on meeting our Pacific Island friends where they live.  In other words, in conversation with our Pacific partners, we have understood clearly what their needs and concerns and interests are, as outlined very clearly in the Pacific Islands Forum’s 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent.  And by design, our work and the work of our other partners through the Partners in the Blue Pacific is specifically designed to address the needs that they themselves have outlined in their strategy.Again, that is the focus of our efforts, not any third parties.  Thank you.MODERATOR:  Okay.  The next question is going to go to Rurika Imahashi, who submitted the question on the chat, the Q&amp;A box here on Zoom.  “Our understanding is that the Marshall Islands parliament will soon certify the compact deal with the U.S.  What is the U.S. understanding on the development of the agreement?”  So we’ll answer that part.ASSISTANT SECRETARY KRITENBRINK:  Mira, why don’t I take an initial stab at this one and we’ll ask you, obviously, to add anything else that you would like.DR RAPP-HOOPER:  Sounds good.ASSISTANT SECRETARY KRITENBRINK:  I guess what I would say to any friends with questions about the compacts, I would just simply underscore that the compacts remain of vital importance to the United States.  I think they recognize our deep and historic ties to the three Freely Associated States.  I think they embody the strong ties between the peoples and the governments of the Federated States of Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, and Palau.  And we remain very optimistic about the progress that we’ve made in the compact-related negotiations.I know when Secretary Blinken sat down with the leaders of the three Freely Associated States, he really commended them for the progress that we’ve made.  I think as everyone is tracking, we signed COFA-related agreements with Palau in May and with the Federated States of Micronesia in May, and we’ve made tremendous progress with our friends in the Marshall Islands.  We’re confident that we will conclude all of these agreements very soon and we will continue to build out these incredibly significant relationships that are central to everything we hope to achieve in the Pacific.And I think, as friends are tracking, that these compacts really are extraordinary agreements that are 20-year agreements in duration, and again, we’re confident that we will conclude them and implement them very soon.But, Mira, would you like to add anything to that?DR RAPP-HOOPER:  Not much that I could add, Dan, except just to foot-stomp the point that we believe we are well on our way; we’ll soon be at a successful conclusion and very much look forward to being able to mark that milestone after months of really terrific cooperation with all of the Freely Associated States.  That’s all for me.ASSISTANT SECRETARY KRITENBRINK:  Yeah, and maybe just one final comment.  I think Mira’s comments reminded me that I do want to recognize that obviously this work is all being done at the direction of President Biden and Secretary Blinken, but our Special Presidential Envoy for Compact Negotiations Joe Yun and his team have also done a brilliant job and I really commend them.  And as Mira indicated, we’re very close and look forward to implementing them very soon.MODERATOR:  The next question will go to Stephen Wright from Radio Free Asia’s BenarNews Service.  Stephen, I also see that your hand is up.  If you’d like to unmute and ask your question, please go ahead.  Yeah, please go ahead and unmute.QUESTION:  Yeah, thanks.  Prime Minister Sogavare didn’t attend the recent summit and subsequently he said the U.S. should show respect to Pacific Island leaders and not lecture them at summits.  What do you think that shows about the progress of U.S. and Solomon Islands relations?  And are there any plans to have an ambassador at the new but smaller embassy in the Solomon Islands?DR RAPP-HOOPER:  Thanks very much.  This is Mira; I’m happy to take a first crack at this, and Dan, perhaps I’ll pass to you just on the embassy piece.We were disappointed that Prime Minister Sogavare was unable to attend the summit in Washington.  We did reach out, including at the very highest levels, to encourage him to join us for this terrific conversation that we’ve been laying out for you here, this opportunity to engage amongst friends, and we’re disappointed that he declined to do so.I don’t have much to say about the specific comments except to note, I think as we have been throughout this call tonight, that the conversation with the President, with the Secretary of State, with every cabinet official and member of Congress at the Pacific Island Forum leaders met with was collaborative, constructive, forward-looking, and I think most importantly involved an incredible amount of listening by U.S. Government officials to continue to refine their understanding of what our Pacific Island Forum friends are most looking for from us.So that’s the approach that we’re going to continue to take.  We continue to believe that it’s the right approach.  We feel that our three really dynamic days of programming show that we’re on the right track, and we look forward to continuing that work on the road ahead.Dan, over to you.ASSISTANT SECRETARY KRITENBRINK:  Thank you, Mira.  Maybe specifically on the question regarding our presence in the Solomon Islands, I’ll just note that we were excited and honored to open our new U.S. embassy in Honiara in January of this year, which was less than one year after Secretary Blinken announced our intent to do so.  Really excited about the work that our embassy colleagues there, led by Chargé Russ Comeau – excited about the work that they’re doing, again, to build our friendship and our ties with the people of the Solmon Islands and ensure that we work to deliver tangible benefits to our partners there.Of course, any new first step in opening an embassy involves staffing it, and of course our chargé d’affaires currently leading our embassy efforts there, and we recognized him for his really stellar work there.I would simply say at this point we have taken a number of steps internally to identify the U.S. ambassador, the next U.S. ambassador to the Solomon Islands, and I don’t have anything to announce to you this evening.  But I hope we’ll have something to announce in the near future, but we are certainly working towards that end.  Thank you.DR RAPP-HOOPER:  Dan, if I may just jump in really quickly to add one additional detail.  I did want to note, as Dan noted, the – our wonderful Chargé Russ Comeau in the Solmon Islands was given a really important inaugural award at the dinner so graciously hosted by Secretary Blinken during the Pacific Island Forum Summit.  That inaugural award commemorates intrepid diplomacy in the Pacific Islands, and Chargé Comeau really embodies that to a T.  He has been just absolutely indefatigable in working to build U.S.-Solomons ties.I underscore that because I do want to make clear that the purpose of an award like this is to continue to draw attention to and raise up Americans who are doing their utmost on the ground to build ties with the Pacific Islands.  And I think the fact that we’ve established this award this year, that it was given by the Secretary of State, is just yet another demonstration that we are continuing to create incentives, recognize achievements so that Americans continue to step up and deliver on our promises throughout the Pacific.MODERATOR:  Okay.  I realize that we’re running a little bit over.  We started a few minutes late, so we’ll take a couple more questions.  We have one from Daniel Hurst from The Guardian.  “To what extent is the United States concerned about the newly announced comprehensive strategic partnership between Timor-Leste and China?  Why or why not?”ASSISTANT SECRETARY KRITENBRINK:  Perhaps I can take an initial crack at that one and then ask Mira to chime in.  Look, I think as we indicated earlier, our message to partners in the region is that we’re not asking countries to choose.  We’re in the business of trying to ensure that countries have the ability to make their own sovereign decisions and their own choices free from coercion.My second point would be, as indicated earlier, we’re focused on our affirmative agenda in the region, including with friends in Timor-Leste, and we’ll continue to do that.  We’ll focus on how we can further build out our friendship and partnership with counterparts in the region, including Timor-Leste, and focus on the great work that we can do together.But again, we’re not in the business of asking countries to choose, and I don’t really think it’s beneficial to try to get into some kind of a comparison game or comment on engagement of other partners with the PRC.But, Mira, what would you like to add to that?DR RAPP-HOOPER:  Nothing to add, Dan.  I’m in violent agreement.MODERATOR:  Great.  We are – let’s see.  If the speakers are okay, can we take one more question?ASSISTANT SECRETARY KRITENBRINK:  Absolutely.  Please.MODERATOR:  Great.  Great.  And this one is from Mar-Vic Cagurangan from the Pacific Island Times, based in Tamuning, Guam, who sent it in advance:  “How will a federal shutdown affect the Compact of Free Association, COFA?  Will the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of Marshall Islands, and Palau continue to receive funds throughout the shutdown?  Do you think this affect – this will affect the U.S. credibility with the Freely Associated States?”ASSISTANT SECRETARY KRITENBRINK:  Mira, perhaps I could provide an initial answer on this one as well and then be happy to turn to you.  Yeah, I really do appreciate the question, and I’ll just underscore what I mentioned earlier.  We’re really excited about the progress we’ve made in the compact negotiations and we’re confident that all of these agreements will be concluded soon.The issue that you raised here was discussed in some detail in the meeting between Secretary Blinken and the three leaders from the Freely Associated States, and I can assure you that we are in very close and constant communication with our friends both in the Freely Associated States and with leaders on Capitol Hill to make sure that we have a plan going forward under all circumstances that will allow us to meet our obligations under the compacts.I think, as friends may be tracking, that the draft Compact of Free Association agreements, the draft legislation on the Hill includes authority to continue programs and services at the same levels provided under current agreements until the new agreements are in place so as to avoid a lapse in services.  And we’re also working very closely with our friends so that if there were to be any kind of a lapse in appropriations that we can take the appropriate mitigating steps wherever possible to minimize any possible impacts on our friends in the Freely Associated States.But I think that I can assure you we’re in close and frequent contact with our friends in the Freely Associated States and I’m confident we have a plan to work through any contingency.Mira, what would you like to add?DR RAPP-HOOPER:  Nothing to add, Dan.  Thanks so much.MODERATOR:  Thank you.  And for our closing remarks, I’d like to turn it back to Dr. Rapp-Hooper.DR RAPP-HOOPER:  Thanks so much, folks, for joining us this evening.  I think from this conversation you’ve gotten a pretty good lay of the land of the incredibly substantive set of conversations that took place in Washington this week.  The point I want to emphasize before we let you go is that for us, this project, this promise to renew our ties, renew our commitment to the Pacific Islands, is really about much more than a three-day summit.  It’s about delivery on the promises that we’ve made in the last two years, which I think we showed in spades this week, but on delivery on those new conversations and those new commitments that have been made just this week.We have clear instructions from the President, the Secretary of State, the National Security Advisor, and many others to move out expeditiously on everything that we announced alongside our Pacific Island friends earlier this week, and we intend to literally put our money where our mouth is and deliver on everything that we seek to do together in the Pacific, whether that is providing finance so that friends in the Pacific can more quickly and readily adapt to climate change or providing micro and small loans to entrepreneurs and small businesses so that women leaders in particular can get the financing they need to allow them to contribute to increasingly dynamic Pacific economies.So we’re really just still in the opening chapter of the new Pacific story that we’re writing here under the Biden administration, but we feel like we have made tremendous progress in just the last two years, and we are emerging from this week’s summit energized and ready to hit the ground running with this new set of programs and new set of promises, and we look forward to being back in touch to share more about how this exciting work is all going.MODERATOR:  And Assistant Secretary Kritenbrink, I’ll turn it over to you for any closing remarks.ASSISTANT SECRETARY KRITENBRINK:  I can’t say it any better than that.  Beautifully summarized by Mira.  Really grateful to all of our friends in the media for joining us here tonight.  And as Mira indicated, we’re committed to now implementing all of the agreements and the objectives that we’ve set out flowing from this latest summit, and very optimistic, again, about our future ahead with friends in the Pacific.  Thanks again for joining us tonight.MODERATOR:  That brings us to the end of our time today.  Thank you for your questions and thank you to Assistant Secretary Kritenbrink and Dr. Rapp-Hooper for joining us.  We will provide a transcript of this briefing to participating journalists as soon as it is available.  We’d also love to hear your feedback, and you can contact us at any time at AsiaPacMedia@state.gov.  Thank you again for your participation and we hope you can join us for another briefing soon.
- State Department Hosts Agreement Signing between the Millennium Challenge Corporation and the Republic of Kiribati Office of the SpokespersonTo enhance the United States’ partnership with the Pacific Islands, and to achieve our shared vision for a resilient Pacific region of peace, harmony, security, social inclusion, and prosperity, Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken presided over a signing ceremony between the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), an independent U.S. development agency, and the Republic of Kiribati.The ceremony took place during the U.S.-Pacific Islands Forum Summit, convened by the White House on September 25. MCC CEO Alice Albright and President of the Republic of Kiribati Taneti Maamau signed an agreement to fund a $29.1 million Threshold Program, the United States&#8217;s largest direct grant investment in Kiribati to date.The program aims to boost the I-Kiribati people’s participation in employment opportunities by:Building the capabilities of the Kiribati Ministry of Employment and Human Resource to share job opportunities and help under-represented groups — including women and members of ethnic minority groups — find jobs.Creating a resource center for overseas I-Kiribati workers to understand their rights in the countries where they are employed.Establishing English-language camps for I-Kiribati youth in Fiji and the United States and providing students with year-long scholarships to study in American high schools.MCC and the Republic of Kiribati will partner with the International Labour Organization and American Councils for International Education to deliver on the Threshold Program.CEO Albright and President Maamau signed the agreement following remarks from CEO Albright, Secretary Blinken, and Kiribati’s Minister for Employment and Human Resource Taabeta Teakai.The partnership is a crucial part of the U.S. government’s continued commitment to the Pacific region, which President Joseph Biden has made clear is a top priority.
- Secretary Antony J. Blinken At a Signing Ceremony with Millennium Challenge Corporation CEO Alice Albright and iKiribati President Taneti Maamau Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of StateMillennium Challenge Corporation CEO Alice AlbrightiKiribati President Taneti MaamauWashington, DCTreaty RoomMS ALBRIGHT:  Hello.  Thank you all so much for joining us, and I thank with deep appreciation the Government of Kiribati for partnering with the Millennium Challenge Corporation.Specifically, I want to recognize all of our friends, officials from the Government of Kiribati, who have joined us here today, including His Excellency Taneti Maamau, the president of Kiribati – lovely to see you; Taabeta Teakai, the minister for employment and human resource; Alexander Teabo, the minister for education; Teburoro Tito, although I’m not sure I see Ambassador Tito here – he’s with us in spirit – (laughter) – the ambassador from Kiribati to the United States, we were with him in New York last week; Secretary Rores Irate (sp), the minister of education; and Director Taabeta Teakai, the minister of employment and human resource.For nearly two decades, MCC has partnered with more than 45 countries, deploying nearly $17 billion in grant capital to reduce poverty through growth.  We anchor our work in country ownership and partnership, working with partners – such as Kiribati – who are committed to our shared democratic and economic values.So today we are so proud to sign this $29.1 million program, which is the largest grant that has been deployed by – in Kiribati by the United States to date.  This program aims to bolster the capabilities of the Government of Kiribati to promote safe, accessible, decent, and inclusive employment opportunities for Kiribati workers and to strengthen workers’ rights and resilience.  The program will also empower youth with key skills for future employment opportunities.This program is a crucial part of President Biden’s overall commitment to the Pacific Region and specifically to the Pacific Islands.  And MCC has recently advanced this commitment.  Last year, MCC and the Government of the Solomon Islands signed a $20 million threshold program, which aims to increase tourism investment and to provide communities with revenues from sustainable forestry as an alternative to logging.  Indeed, MCC is hard at work in the Solomons implementing this program with our resident country director, Charles Jakosa, establishing a full-time presence.  And now MCC is so excited to deepen its partnerships in this vital part of the world by investing in Kiribati.Further, we are together addressing the existential challenge that we all face of climate change.  Kiribati’s geography faces this threat, jeopardizing jobs and constraining economic growth.  So we are working together to tackle this problem head on.  To help Kiribati adapt to climate challenges, we have worked hand in hand with our colleagues in Kiribati to develop a country-based approach, investing in international labor mobility – investing in international labor mobility.  People are the country’s most important asset, so this program will protect and invest in Kiribati’s workers, providing decent employment opportunities both in Kiribati and throughout the Pacific region.  Together we will empower the people of Kiribati with capabilities and opportunities to thrive in the economy of the future.  As partners, we are committed to our shared values, and I so look forward to achieving a brighter future for the people of Kiribati.Finally, I’d like to offer my deep gratitude to the MCC team members led by Grace Morgan – where’s Grace?  Grace – and Emily Schultz.  Where’s Emily?  Emily’s over there – whose hard work has made this program possible starting in the middle of COVID.  So there was a lot done over Zoom.And now it is my great honor and privilege to introduce my dear friend and the 71st Secretary – U.S. Secretary of State, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, to share his remarks.  Thank you so much.  (Applause.)SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Well, thank you and good evening, everybody.  Mr. President, thank you for being here this evening.  Thank you for marking this important occasion with us.  Alice, to you, for your extraordinary leadership of the MCC, to your team for the incredibly hard work during COVID, after COVID to bring us to this day.  But especially to our friends from Kiribati – we’re so delighted to welcome you here to the State Department.Mr. President, last week at the United Nations you shared your vision, and I quote, “of a wealthier, healthier, peaceful nation.”  That’s a goal that President Biden shares as well for Kiribati and for countries across the Pacific.  As a Pacific nation ourselves, the United States is committed to partnering with Pacific Islands to build a secure, resilient, inclusive, and prosperous future.And that’s very much the spirit behind the agreement that we’ll sign today.  We’re investing in the President’s vision for the country, specifically by supporting Kiribati’s greatest asset, its people.  This agreement, as you’ve heard, invests $29.1 million to promote safe, accessible, decent, and inclusive employment opportunities for iKiribati workers, both in Kiribati and across the region.  And it does this in a number of critical ways, and I really want to emphasize some of the things that Alice said because it’s so important.  It gets to the heart not only of what we’re doing together but how we’re doing it.First, it helps strengthen Kiribati’s Ministry of Employment and Human Resource, which we know plays a vital role in connecting workers with domestic and regional employers.  This agreement makes it possible for the agency to better market job opportunities to iKiribati workers and to make more – and to more easily help underrepresented groups, like women and ethnic minorities, actually find jobs.Second, the agreement helps protect iKiribati as they take jobs abroad.  One way it will do this is by supporting the creation of a resource center for overseas workers so that they know their rights in new countries.And third, the agreement creates English language camps for iKiribati youth in Fiji and the United States and provides students with year-long scholarships to study in American high schools.  Students will have the opportunity to improve their oral and written communication and make themselves more competitive for jobs.  And these connections will strengthen the ties that bind our people, and with it, our shared future.Like all MCC projects, we developed this initiative, as you heard from Alice, hand in hand with our in-country partners.  That’s the great strength of what the MCC does.  It is focused on developing projects jointly, listening, learning, hearing our partners and what they need, and working together to identify priorities and generate practical, positive solutions. This agreement recognizes the fast-changing nature of employment challenges, and it gives us the flexibility that we need to adapt to new circumstances and to ensure that, together, we’re delivering results.So to everyone who made this possible, who brought us to today, thank you.  We’re greatly looking forward to seeing all of the good things, the positive things, the practical things this project brings to Kiribati and to the broader Pacific region.  Thank you so much.  (Applause.)Madam Minister, the microphone is yours.MINISTER TEAKAI:  Thank you very much.SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Thank you so much.MINISTER TEAKAI:  Secretary of State Antony Blinken, the chief executive officer of the Millennium Challenge Corporation and your team, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, warm greetings – warm Kiribati greetings to you all in the name of God Almighty.  (In foreign language.)I have the honor to represent the government and the people of Kiribati this evening to witness and celebrate the signing of the Millennium Challenge Corporation, MCC, Kiribati threshold grant agreement.  First, allow me to reflect on our past engagement with the MCC leading to this partnership.Kiribati first engaged with the MCC in 2021 during the COVID pandemic through virtual meetings after being selected for the threshold program.  This is where the extensive and comprehensive consultations began in which the Government of Kiribati selected the international labor mobility as a priority focus to be considered under the collaboration with the MCC.Following the border reopening, the MCC delegation made its first in-country visit of – to Kiribati in October 2022, where they had the opportunity to meet in person with all relevant stakeholders and held extensive consultations informing the project design.In June ’23, the negotiation on the threshold grant agreement was held here in Washington, D.C.  The international labor mobility program – named (inaudible), meaning (in foreign language) project, or in English, “Decent Work for Everyone’s Development,” consists of three activities.  These include capacity strengthening to support labor mobility activities, workers’ right, and well-being implemented by the Ministry of Employment and Human Resources, and senior secondary scholarships and summer camps implemented by the Ministry of Education.These are very much central to and resonating with Kiribati’s development aspirations.  Capitalizing on our human resources through strengthened international labor mobility is a cornerstone to Kiribati’s long-term development aspirations, enshrined in the Kiribati Vision, the KV20.  The signing of this MCC grant agreement marks an important milestone between Kiribati and the United States through the Ministry of Employment and the Ministry of Education with the MCC team.  Kiribati is looking forward to the implementation stage and to a long-term partnership.On behalf of the people of and the Government of Kiribati, I wish to convey our sincere gratitude to the U.S. Government for this new initiative.  I would also like to acknowledge with gratitude the support and commitment of the MCC team and the implementing partners, International Labor Organization and the American Councils, who will be working with our ministries.  The signing of the MCC grant agreement is just the beginning of this significant partnership, but I have no doubt it will bring tangible, mutual benefits to our two countries.In closing, I would like to wish you all the best this evening and to bestow upon all of us our Kiribati traditional blessings of te mauri, te raoi, and te tabomoa, meaning “good health, peace, and prosperity.”  Thank you all.  (Applause.)SECRETARY BLINKEN:  So I think now we’re going to proceed to the signing.(The agreement was signed.)(Applause.)
- Kiribati’s National Day Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of StateOn behalf of the United States of America, I warmly congratulate the people of Kiribati as you celebrate your National Day on July 12.The longstanding friendship between the United States and Kiribati continues to grow each year. Our shared commitment to democratic principles and dedication to advancing our common interests, enshrined in our 1979 Treaty of Friendship, are at the heart of all that we do together. The United States is committed to partnering with Kiribati to create a future that is peaceful, prosperous, and secure. Together, we are working to address the climate crisis, combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, promote the sustainable management of marine resources, and expand people-to-people ties. In the coming year, we also look forward to advancing our collaboration and continuing discussions about our interest in opening a United States Embassy in Tarawa.I extend my best wishes to the citizens of Kiribati as you celebrate your independence. We are grateful for your friendship.
- U.S.-Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Dialogue in Papua New Guinea Office of the SpokespersonSecretary Blinken’s visit to Papua New Guinea for the U.S.-Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Dialogue is a testament to renewed U.S. commitment to our Pacific Island neighbors and partners.  At the historic first-ever U.S.-Pacific Island Summit held in Washington in September 2022, President Biden announced a slate of ambitious initiatives that, working with Congress, will provide over $810 million in additional expanded programs to meet Pacific priorities.  The Biden-Harris Administration is following through on these commitments, including through opening new U.S. embassies in the region in record time and expanding our diplomatic and development engagement to unprecedented levels.  The United States is also working together with likeminded partners through the Partners in the Blue Pacific to collectively support Pacific priorities as outlined in the Pacific Islands Forum 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent.Today, Secretary Blinken highlighted our commitment to working with Congress for over $7.2 billion in new funding and programs for the Pacific Islands region.  This includes over $45 million in new programming for Papua New Guinea, as well as additional Pacific Islands programming.  The President’s FY 2024 Budget also requests $7.1 billion over 20 years to extend assistance under the Compacts of Free Association with the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and Palau.With these new announcements, the Biden-Harris Administration has committed to working with Congress on providing over $8 billion to the Pacific Islands region since the historic first Summit in Washington, demonstrating U.S. commitment to the region.  These announcements include the following lines of effort:I. Delivering on the U.S.-Pacific Islands PartnershipAt the U.S.-Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Dialogue, Secretary Blinken and Pacific Leaders reaffirmed their commitment to the Declaration on U.S.-Pacific Partnership issued in September 2022.  The Declaration laid out an affirmative vision of cooperation and partnership to address shared challenges, bolster Pacific regionalism, advance economic growth and sustainable development, maintain peace and security in the Blue Pacific continent, and expand opportunities for our peoples.  The United States has been delivering on our commitments from the historic first Summit, the Declaration on U.S.-Pacific Partnership, and the first ever U.S. national strategy on the Pacific Islands, the Pacific Partnership Strategy.  This includes our request to Congress for $7.1 billion in funding over 20 years under the Compacts of Free Association for the Freely Associated States and signing agreements to extend Compact-related assistance with the Federated States of Micronesia and Palau to extend Compact-related assistance.Signing Agreements related to the Compacts of Free Association with Palau and Federated States of Micronesia (FSM): Extending COFA-related assistance is a critical component of the Administration’s Indo-Pacific, Pacific Partnership, and National Security Strategies, necessary to enhancing our relationships with the Freely Associated States and to maintaining our status as a committed preferred partner in the Pacific.  In Papua New Guinea, Special Presidential Envoy for Compact Negotiations Joseph Yun signed the Palau 2023 Compact Review Agreement with Minister of Finance Kaleb Udui.  The United States and FSM will sign Compact related agreements on May 23 in the FSM.New Embassy Openings: S. Embassy Honiara in Solomon Islands opened on January 27, 2023.  U.S. Embassy Nuku&#8217;alofa in Tonga opened on May 9, and a public event is expected in the coming months.  We are in active discussions regarding our interest in opening an embassy in Kiribati and have announced our intent to open an embassy in Vanuatu, subject to host government approval and completion of Congressional notification procedures.Returning Peace Corps to the Region: In September 2022, we announced that the Peace Corps would be returning to the Pacific region.  Peace Corps Volunteers are now on the ground in Fiji, Samoa, and Tonga, and will return to Vanuatu later this year.  The Peace Corps is also assessing the reestablishment of operations, budget permitting, in Solomon Islands, Palau, and the Federated States of Micronesia. II. Expanding People-to-People ConnectionsThe United States is following through on commitments to strengthen people-to-people ties with our Pacific Islands neighbors.  We are also leveraging connections with academia, sports, and the private sector to build connections between our peoples.Expanding American Spaces in the Pacific: The United States intends to enhance and expand access to our American Spaces across the Pacific with a focus on inclusivity and accessibility and promoting people-to-people connections to build mutual understanding and partnerships.  In modern environments equipped with advanced technologies, visitors to American Spaces can explore and share a wide range of topics and ideas, access reliable information, develop practical professional skills, and participate in programs that foster economic strength, hone critical thinking, and build capacity.  Through a new Regional Public Engagement Specialist (REPS) position in Suva, Fiji, the United States will support the operations of American Spaces throughout the Pacific Islands.  In addition to the recently opened American Center in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, the United States intends to work with the Carnegie Library in Suva to open an American Corner and develop American Spaces for Solomon Islands, Tonga, and the Republic of the Marshall Islands.Building Relationships through Sports in the Pacific: S. sports diplomacy programs in the Pacific are fostering resilience, health, economic development, and gender equity as well as building people-to-people ties.  In the last six months alone, U.S. athletes and coaches in surfing, running, rugby, and football have visited Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Tonga, and Kiribati, as well as with Indigenous Australians and New Zealanders.  American female surfers traveled to Papua New Guinea to teach youth surfing skills while advocating for greater gender equity policies in sports.  On May 19, eight Tongan and 10 Fijian female athletes and coaches traveled to the United States to participate in the State Department-funded International Sports Programming Initiative (ISPI) to build leadership skills and discuss the role that sports can play in preventing gender-based violence.Expanding the Special Professional Fellows Program for Young Economic Empowerment Leaders: For the first time, fellows from Cook Islands, New Caledonia, and Niue will join a group of 10 Fellows from other Pacific Islands on a four-week, U.S.-based exchange to collaborate with U.S. professionals on post-pandemic equitable and sustainable economic recovery  The program features individually tailored Fellowships at private and public sector organizations across the United States which are designed to enhance the Fellows’ leadership and professional skills.  The Professional Fellows Program has supported programming in the Pacific Islands since 2018.Launching the U.S.-Pacific Institute for Rising Leaders: The Department of State is working with the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies on the newly created U.S.-Pacific Institute for Rising Leaders, announced last September.  Beginning in the fall of 2023, this multi-year program will bring exceptional rising leaders from the private sector, government, media, and non-profit organizations across the Pacific to Washington, D.C. for several weeks of professional and leadership development.Announcing the Indo-Pacific Museum Exchange Partnership: In summer 2023, the State Department Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs&#8217; Cultural Heritage Center will launch a new, two-year exchange program for cultural heritage specialists from Indo-Pacific countries.  The Indo-Pacific Museum Exchange Partnership will build capacity to preserve and promote national identity and create a network of museum professionals across the region.  Participants from Fiji, Kiribati, Papua New Guinea, Palau, Solomon Islands, Tonga, and Vanuatu will join participants from across the region to develop and share knowledge about collections management, conservation, and public engagement for the cultural objects in the national museums of these countries, many of which are important to Indigenous Peoples and the national identities of these countries.13th Festival of Pacific Arts and Culture 2024: The United States is pleased to support the Governor of Hawaiʻi and the Pacific Community (SPC) in hosting the 13th Festival of Pacific Arts and Culture (FestPAC) June 6-16, 2024, in Honolulu, Hawaiʻi.  We look forward to providing a warm welcome filled with the Aloha Spirit to FestPAC delegations of royal families and Ministers to Indigenous practitioners and student performers next year.III.  Climate Action, Clean Energy, and Sustainable InfrastructureThe United States is committed to keeping 1.5 degrees Celsius limit on global warming within reach, including through outreach to major emitters to raise ambition and to take action in this critical decade.  We are committed to helping Pacific Islands manage both sudden-onset impacts of climate change, such as major storms, and slow-onset impacts such as sea-level rise.  To date, USAID has helped Pacific Islands countries unlock more than $500 million from international organizations such as the Green Climate Fund (GCF), Adaptation Fund, and the Global Environment Facility.  The Administration will also work to scale the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGII) in the region to deliver quality, sustainable energy, physical, digital, health, and climate-resilient infrastructure.Technical Assistance Support for the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Pacific Resilience Facility: The United States intends to provide $2 million, subject to Congressional notification and the completion of domestic procedures, to support the PIF to design and stand up the Pacific Resilience Facility (PRF).  This program is envisioned to support investments into enhancing adaptation and resilience at the local level in the Pacific Islands.  The United States is proud to be among the founding development partners for this important new initiative promoting better access to climate finance in the Pacific.Reaffirming New Sea-level Rise Policy: The United States reaffirms our sea-level rise policy announced at the September 2022 Summit, which says that climate change-driven sea-level rise “should not diminish” maritime economic zones of coastal states and calls on all countries to commit to supporting this policy by COP 28.Transportation Partnership with the Pacific Islands (TPPI): The Department of Transportation (DOT) and U.S. Trade &amp; Development Agency (USTDA) conducted a joint scoping trip to Fiji, Samoa, and Tonga in February 2023 on transportation priorities and challenges to inform the basis for bilateral and regional technical assistance and capacity building activities.  Initial near-term DOT cooperation will focus on aviation safety with the Pacific Aviation Safety Office (PASO) and bilaterally through Federal Aviation Administration engagement.  In the medium-term, DOT is exploring other areas of cooperation, including maritime development, decarbonization, transportation safety, sustainability, planning, and inclusivity. USTDA is also currently evaluating transportation opportunities in airport and port upgrades, aviation safety, drone delivery, EVs, and climate-smart transportation.Pacific Islands Port Leaders Visit: USTDA will host a Pacific Islands Port Leaders Visit Reverse Trade Mission that will bring a delegation of 15 port sector leaders from the Pacific Islands to the United States to familiarize them with U.S. technologies, services, and best practices that can improve port operations, security, and sustainability in the region.  The visit advances the goals of the Transportation Partnership with the Pacific Islands, launched last September, by promoting sustainable transportation infrastructure in the region.Pacific Islands Strategic Infrastructure Initiative: USTDA launched a call for proposals to develop quality infrastructure for the Pacific Islands and conducted a six-country scoping mission to the Pacific Islands.  The Call for Proposals closed in April 2023, and USTDA is currently evaluating over 80 proposals from 11 Pacific Islands countries that have the potential to develop high-quality infrastructure projects and help unlock financing.  This work builds on USTDA’s current activities in the Pacific Islands aimed at unlocking over $450 million in financing for clean energy, connectivity, and digital infrastructure solutions.IV. Economic Partnership and RecoveryThe United States is committed to partnering with the Pacific Islands and allies and partners to drive economic growth and prosperity, including through increasing trade and investment; providing assistance to strengthen enabling environments, infrastructure, and macroeconomic stability; and continued support for recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.Conclusion of Negotiations on Economic Assistance Agreement Related to the Tuna Treaty: The United States is following through on its pledge to request from Congress $600 million over ten years in connection with a new Economic Assistance Agreement associated with the South Pacific Tuna Treaty.  We and the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency have concluded negotiations on a new 10-year agreement, and the President has included $60 million for the first year of the agreement in the FY 2024 budget request to Congress.  The United States is working on completion of its domestic procedures to conclude the agreement.Supporting Economic Growth by Promoting High Quality Business Opportunities in Pacific Islands Countries: The Department of Commerce will lead a U.S. business delegation to Pacific Islands countries in the coming year, complemented by virtual trade promotion events.  The trade mission delegation will seek to bring U.S. company representatives together with host nation officials, business associations, and potential private sector partners, distributors, and licensees to learn about business opportunities in Pacific Islands countries.  Target market sectors will include high-impact government procurements, particularly in seaports, airports, energy, healthcare, and telecommunications sectors.Increasing Competitiveness and Economic Inclusion by Bolstering Commercial Cooperation with Pacific Islands Countries: The Department of Commerce has begun the process of engaging interested Pacific Islands countries in discussions on bilateral Memoranda of Commercial Cooperation, aimed at supporting partners in expanding trade and investment with the United States, while improving business climates in the Pacific Islands.Technical Assistance for Aviation Security to Support Reopening Borders in the Pacific: Since 2022, the Transportation Safety Administration (TSA) has conducted aviation security oversight visits to Fiji, Samoa, and French Polynesia in support of Pacific border reopening and to ensure the security integrity of the civil aviation sector.  TSA plans to visit Cook Islands and Kiribati in the second half of 2023.  Civil aviation authority representatives from Fiji and Samoa have been nominated to attend the Idaho National Lab Industrial Control Systems Cybersecurity Training in June 2023.  TSA, along with the Republic of Korea’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and the International Civil Aviation Organization, will host a Joint Covert Testing workshop in July 2023, where countries including Solomon Islands and Vanuatu will learn to utilize joint covert testing programs to strengthen global aviation security effectiveness.Supporting Health through COVID-19 Vaccines:  The United States has provided over 1.3 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines to Pacific Islands countries.  Through our partnership with COVAX, the United States has donated over 860,000 life-saving doses of the Pfizer vaccine across the Pacific Islands countries.  Recent deliveries include the first U.S.-donated pediatric Pfizer doses (19,200) to Kiribati and the first U.S.-donated Tris Pfizer vaccines (70,200) to Solomon Islands.  Through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), we have also provided an additional 476,270 doses to the Freely Associated States of Palau, Federated States of Micronesia, and Republic of the Marshall Islands.  USAID and HHS, through the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR), are working with partners to ensure these vaccines reach people who need it most and are administered efficiently and safely.Deployment of NOAA Ship Rainier to support Pacific Hydrographic Survey Requests: The United States deployed the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) ship Rainier April 30-May 1, 2023, to conduct a hydrographic survey of Kanton Island and its port area per a request from the Kiribati Ministry of Information, Communication, and Transport (MICT). This is the first-ever, high-resolution multibeam mapping mission conducted of Kanton Island, and the data will be used to improve maritime safety and support new infrastructure projects.  NOAA is working with MICT to develop Kiribati’s first integrated geospatial information framework with additional projects forthcoming. V. Bolstering Security Cooperation and Maritime Domain AwarenessThe United States is committed to ensuring the Blue Pacific Continent remains a place of peace and prosperity.  We are strengthening our cooperation with Pacific Islands countries on improving maritime domain awareness, combatting illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, and countering transnational criminal activity.Expanding United States Coast Guard (USCG) Security Cooperation in the Pacific: The U.S. Coast Guard conducts cooperative training with Pacific Islands country partners to expand their maritime security capabilities through technical resident training at U.S. Coast Guard schools and focused subject matter expert exchanges.  Under the U.S. Department of State Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement-funded Pacific Australia Maritime Partnership (AMP) program, the USCG continues to provide maritime law enforcement trainings through in-region mobile training team (MTT) engagements with recipients of Australia’s Guardian Class patrol boats.  In 2023, the U.S. Coast Guard will conduct 15 MTT visits to Pacific Islands countries.Improving Security Sector Governance: At the 2022 Summit we committed to improving security sector governance and institutional capacity of U.S. partners through advisory support efforts.  As part of the Global Defense Reform Program, we are implementing projects in Palau through an embedded senior advisor focused on maritime security governance; in the Federated States of Micronesia and Republic of the Marshall Islands through intermittent capacity building engagements by the U.S. Coast Guard; and in Vanuatu through an embedded senior advisor focused on maritime security and safety.
- Kiribati HomeReportsOffice of International Religious Freedom2022 Report on International Religious Freedom&#8230;Kiribati				hide	document.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded", function(event) {	if(window.jQuery) {		jQuery( document ).ready(function() {			if (jQuery(".bc_middle").hasClass("collapse")) {				jQuery(".bc_ellipse").click(function(){					jQuery(".bc_hide").toggleClass("visible");					jQuery(".bc_middle").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_ellipse").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_content").toggleClass("noflex");					jQuery(".block_breadcrumbs_content").toggleClass("noflex");				});				jQuery(".bc_hide").click(function(){					jQuery(".bc_hide").toggleClass("visible");					jQuery(".bc_middle").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_ellipse").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_content").toggleClass("noflex");					jQuery(".block_breadcrumbs_content").toggleClass("noflex");				});			} else {				jQuery(".bc_ellipse").hide();			}		});	}});																							2022 Report on International Religious Freedom: Kiribati																																					Office of International Religious Freedom																																																																																							Download Report																																																																																	 In this section										/																							Executive Summary																																													Executive Summary																															Section I. Religious Demography																																																																																		Section II. Status of Government Respect for Religious Freedom																																																									Legal Framework																																																																											Government Practices																																																																																	Section III. Status of Societal Respect for Religious Freedom																																																																																		Section IV. U.S. Government Policy and Engagement																																																																																																								Executive Summary				The constitution provides for freedom of religion. Religious groups with memberships equal to or greater than 2 percent of the population are required to register with the government.The government allowed the Kiribati Protestant Church (KPC) to operate, but the church was not able to register during the year due to a court case and opposition to its registration from the Kiribati Uniting Church, according to KPC leadership. Church officials stated they were optimistic the government would approve registration due to the government’s grant support for its activities.Two islands in the southern part of the country continued to uphold a “one-church-only” policy due to a stated deference to the first Protestant missionaries that visited the islands in the 1800s.U.S. embassy officials met with leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Church of Jesus Christ) to discuss religious tolerance and practices on the treatment of minority groups. The U.S. Embassy in Fiji, which is also accredited to Kiribati, utilized its social media platforms to promote religious pluralism and tolerance on major Jewish, Hindu, and Muslim celebrations.																														Section I.													 Religious Demography												    																																															The U.S. government estimates the total population at 114,189 (midyear 2022).  According to the 2020 census, approximately 59 percent of the population are Roman Catholic and 21 percent belong to the Kiribati Uniting Church (until 2016 known as the Kiribati Protestant Church).  Members who did not accept the name change continue as the KPC and represent 8 percent of the population.  According to the census, 6 percent of the population belong to the Church of Jesus Christ, but the church states its membership exceeds 12 percent.  Groups that together constitute less than 5 percent of the population include the Baha’i Faith (2 percent), Seventh-day Adventist Church (2 percent), Jehovah’s Witnesses, Assemblies of God, and Muslims.  Persons with no religious affiliation account for less than 1 percent of the population.  Members of the Catholic Church are concentrated in the northern islands, while Protestants constitute the majority in the southern islands.																																					Section II.													 Status of Government Respect for Religious Freedom												    																																																Legal Framework										The constitution provides for freedom of conscience (including religion), expression, assembly, and association. These rights may be limited by law “which is reasonably required” in the interests of public defense, safety, order, morality, or health, or to protect the rights of others.By law, any religious group with a membership equal to or greater than 2 percent of the total population (according to the most recent census) must register with the government, although there are no legal consequences for not registering. To register, the religious organization submits a request to the Ministry of Women, Youth, and Social Affairs, signed by the head of the group and supported by five other members of the organization. Also required in the request is information regarding proof of the number of adherents and the religious denomination and name under which the group wishes to be registered.There is no mandated religious education in public schools. Public schools in the country allow a variety of religious groups, including Catholics, Protestants, Seventh-day Adventists, and members of the Church of Jesus Christ, to provide religious education in schools. Students who opt out of religious education must participate in a supervised study period.The country is not a party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.																																				Government Practices										The government continued to administer a small grants program for development projects administered by nongovernmental organizations and religious organizations, of which the KPC was a recipient. Missionaries were active in the country and operated freely. Missionary visits to islands with a “one church” tradition were allowed as long as they followed the traditional practice of requesting permission from local leaders. Sources stated that minority religious groups did not seek to send any missionaries to these islands during the year.The government allowed the KPC to operate, but the church was not able to register during the year due to a court case and opposition to its registration from the Kiribati Uniting Church, according to KPC leadership. The church’s registration application was submitted when it separated from the Kiribati Uniting Church in 2016, and church officials said they were optimistic the government would grant registration due to the government’s grant support for its activities.Most governmental meetings and events began and ended with an ordained minister or other church official delivering a Christian prayer.In October, the President hosted a reception to mark the opening of the annual church conferences of the Church of Jesus Christ and the Kiribati Uniting Church with the aim of promoting cooperation and respect among the different churches and to acknowledge the role of Christian organizations in promoting peace in the country.																																					Section III.													 Status of Societal Respect for Religious Freedom												    																																															The residents of two islands – Arorae and Tamana – continued their “one-church-only” tradition, which they stated was in deference to Protestant missionaries who came to the islands in the 1800s, according to government reports.  The two islands have approximately 1,000 inhabitants each.  Residents of the two islands were largely Protestants, who represented 98 percent and 96 percent, respectively, according to the 2015 census.  While most residents of Arorae accepted the name change to Kiribati Uniting Church, most residents of Tamana joined the KPC.  A small number of Catholic, Seventh-day Adventist, Church of Jesus Christ, and Baha’i adherents were also present.  On these islands, residents of other religious groups worshipped only in their own homes.  Sources stated that villagers on Arorae discouraged religious groups outside the Kiribati Uniting Church from proselytizing or holding public meetings but permitted missionaries to visit members in their homes if they requested permission from local leaders first.																																					Section IV.													 U.S. Government Policy and Engagement												    																																															Embassy officials met with Church of Jesus Christ leaders to discuss religious tolerance and practices regarding the treatment of minority groups.  The U.S. embassy in Fiji, which covers Kiribati, also utilized its social media platforms to promote religious pluralism and tolerance, posting messages on major Jewish, Hindu, and Muslim celebrations on Yom Kippur, Rosh Hashanah, Ganush Chaturthi, Navrati, and Eid al-Fitr.																																				    							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Religious Demography																																																	Section II. Status of Government Respect for Religious Freedom																																							Legal Framework																																																						Government Practices																																																			Section III. Status of Societal Respect for Religious Freedom																																																	Section IV. U.S. Government Policy and Engagement																																																							Tags																					Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs																								Kiribati																								Office of International Religious Freedom																																Religious Freedom
- Kiribati HomeReportsBureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor2022 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices&#8230;Kiribati				hide	document.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded", function(event) {	if(window.jQuery) {		jQuery( document ).ready(function() {			if (jQuery(".bc_middle").hasClass("collapse")) {				jQuery(".bc_ellipse").click(function(){					jQuery(".bc_hide").toggleClass("visible");					jQuery(".bc_middle").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_ellipse").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_content").toggleClass("noflex");					jQuery(".block_breadcrumbs_content").toggleClass("noflex");				});				jQuery(".bc_hide").click(function(){					jQuery(".bc_hide").toggleClass("visible");					jQuery(".bc_middle").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_ellipse").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_content").toggleClass("noflex");					jQuery(".block_breadcrumbs_content").toggleClass("noflex");				});			} else {				jQuery(".bc_ellipse").hide();			}		});	}});																							2022 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: Kiribati																																					Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor																																																																																							Download Report																																																							Translations																																																																 In this section										/																							EXECUTIVE SUMMARY																																													EXECUTIVE SUMMARY																															Section 1. Respect for the Integrity of the Person																																																									a. Arbitrary Deprivation of Life and Other Unlawful or Politically Motivated Killings																																																																											b. Disappearance																																																																											c. Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, and Other Related Abuses																																																																			Prison and Detention Center Conditions																																																																																																																		d. Arbitrary Arrest or Detention																																																																			Arrest Procedures and Treatment of Detainees																																																																																																																		e. Denial of Fair Public Trial																																																																			Trial Procedures																																																								Political Prisoners and Detainees																																																								Civil Judicial Procedures and Remedies																																																																																																																		f. Arbitrary or Unlawful Interference with Privacy, Family, Home, or Correspondence																																																																																	Section 2. Respect for Civil Liberties																																																									a. Freedom of Expression, Including for Members of the Press and Other Media																																																																			Internet Freedom																																																																																																																		b. Freedoms of Peaceful Assembly and Association																																																																											c. Freedom of Religion																																																																											d. Freedom of Movement and the Right to Leave the Country																																																																											e. Protection of Refugees																																																																																	Section 3. Freedom to Participate in the Political Process																																																																												Elections and Political Participation																																																																																	Section 4. Corruption and Lack of Transparency in Government																																																																																		Section 5. Governmental Posture Towards International and Nongovernmental Investigation of Alleged Abuses of Human Rights																																																																																		Section 6. Discrimination and Societal Abuses																																																									Women																																																																											Systemic Racial or Ethnic Violence and Discrimination																																																																											Children																																																																											Antisemitism																																																																											Trafficking in Persons																																																																											Acts of Violence, Criminalization, and Other Abuses Based on Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity or Expression, or Sex Characteristics																																																																											Persons with Disabilities																																																																																	Section 7. Worker Rights																																																									a. Freedom of Association and the Right to Collective Bargaining																																																																											b. Prohibition of Forced or Compulsory Labor																																																																											c. Prohibition of Child Labor and Minimum Age for Employment																																																																											d. Discrimination with Respect to Employment and Occupation																																																																											e. Acceptable Conditions of Work																																																																																																							EXECUTIVE SUMMARY				Kiribati is a constitutional multiparty republic. The president exercises executive authority. Following legislative elections, the House of Assembly nominates three or four presidential candidates from among its members, and the public then elects the president for a four-year term. Citizens re-elected Taneti Maamau president in two-stage parliamentary and presidential elections in 2020. Observers considered the elections to be free and fair, despite allegations of corruption and foreign influence throughout election campaigning.The Police and Prisons Service, under the Ministry of Justice, maintains internal security. The country has no military force. Civilian authorities maintained effective control over police. Members of the security forces were not reported to have committed abuses.Significant human rights issues included credible reports of: criminalization of consensual sexual activity between men, although the law was not enforced, and child labor.The government took steps to investigate officials who committed human rights abuses, and impunity was not a problem. The government did not implement effectively the law criminalizing official corruption.																														Section 1.													 Respect for the Integrity of the Person												    																																																a. Arbitrary Deprivation of Life and Other Unlawful or Politically Motivated Killings										There were no reports the government or its agents committed arbitrary or unlawful killings.																																				b. Disappearance										There were no reports of disappearances by or on behalf of government authorities.																																				c. Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, and Other Related Abuses										The constitution prohibits such practices, and there were no reports government officials employed them.Impunity was not a problem in the security forces.																Prison and Detention Center Conditions						Although physical conditions in prisons were not problematic, comingling of convicted prisoners, pretrial detainees, and juvenile offenders remained a problem.  Women prisoners were held separately from men.Abusive Physical Conditions:  Convicted prisoners, pretrial detainees not granted bail, and juvenile offenders ages 17 and 18 were held together, although there were no juvenile offenders held as of September.  Children younger than age 16 were usually not incarcerated.  Juveniles ages 16 and 17 were generally detained no longer than one month, although for more serious charges, such as murder, they could be held in custody longer.  Community-service-based sentences provided alternatives to incarceration for juvenile offenders.Administration:  Although authorities permit complaints by inmates about inhumane conditions, authorities did not report receiving any such complaints or undertake any investigations in the year to September.Independent Monitoring:  The government permits monitoring visits by independent human rights observers.																										d. Arbitrary Arrest or Detention										The law prohibits arbitrary arrest and detention and provides for the right of any person to challenge the lawfulness of his or her arrest or detention in court.  The government generally observed these requirements.																Arrest Procedures and Treatment of Detainees						In some cases, magistrates issued warrants before authorities made arrests.  Authorities must bring persons taken into custody without a warrant before a magistrate within 24 hours, or within a reasonable amount of time when arrests take place in remote locations.  Authorities released many individuals charged with minor offenses on their own recognizance pending trial and routinely granted bail for many offenses.  The law requires that authorities inform arrested individuals of the charges against them and of their rights, including the right to legal counsel during questioning and the right not to incriminate themselves.  Two police officers must always be present during the questioning of detainees, who also have the option of writing and reviewing statements given to police.  Detainees received prompt access to legal counsel.  All arrested persons facing serious criminal charges and others needing legal advice but unable to afford a lawyer received free counsel from the Office of Legal Services, although access to legal services in the outer islands was limited.																										e. Denial of Fair Public Trial										The constitution provides for an independent judiciary, and the government generally respected judicial independence and impartiality.  In June the government suspended the country’s Chief Justice and one of two high court justices, effectively leaving the country without a functioning High Court.  All three justices are foreign nationals on contract with the government to serve in the appeals court.  The government attempted to deport the Chief Justice in August and in October appointed the attorney general as the new Chief Justice.  Government opponents criticized these actions as interference with the judiciary.																Trial Procedures						The constitution provides for the right to a fair and public trial, and an independent judiciary generally enforced this right.  Interpretation is provided free of charge in i-Kiribati and English if needed; it is not provided for free in other languages and may be difficult to obtain.Unlike in previous years, there were no reports of extrajudicial, communal justice, in which village elders decided cases and meted out punishment, especially on remote outer islands.						Political Prisoners and Detainees						There were no reports of political prisoners or detainees						Civil Judicial Procedures and Remedies						Individuals and organizations may seek civil remedies for human rights violations from domestic courts.																										f. Arbitrary or Unlawful Interference with Privacy, Family, Home, or Correspondence										The constitution prohibits such actions, and there were no reports that the government failed to respect these prohibitions.																																					Section 2.													 Respect for Civil Liberties												    																																																a. Freedom of Expression, Including for Members of the Press and Other Media										The constitution provides for freedom of expression, including for the press and other media, and the government generally respected this right.Media outlets were active and expressed a wide variety of views without restriction, although observers noted most views expressed did not oppose the government.																Internet Freedom						The government did not restrict or disrupt access to the internet or censor online content, and there were no credible reports that the government monitored private online communications without appropriate legal authority.																										b. Freedoms of Peaceful Assembly and Association										The constitution provides for the freedoms of peaceful assembly and association, and the government generally respected these rights.																																				c. Freedom of Religion										See the Department of State’s International Religious Freedom Report at  https://www.state.gov/religiousfreedomreport/.																																				d. Freedom of Movement and the Right to Leave the Country										The constitution provides for freedom of internal movement, foreign travel, emigration, and repatriation, and the government generally respected these rights.																																				e. Protection of Refugees										Access to Asylum: The law does not specifically provide for granting asylum or refugee status, and the government has not established a formal system for providing protection to refugees. The principal immigration officer has wide discretionary authority to permit foreigners to stay in the country. During the year there were no reported applications for asylum or refugee status.																																					Section 3.													 Freedom to Participate in the Political Process												    																																															The constitution provides citizens the ability to choose their government in free and fair periodic elections held by secret ballot and based on universal and equal suffrage.																																				Elections and Political Participation										Recent Elections: Observers considered the two-step legislative elections in April 2020 and the presidential election in June 2020 to be free and fair. The legislature has 46 members. Of that number, 44 are elected by universal adult suffrage; the Rabi Island Council of i-Kiribati (persons of Kiribati ancestry) in Fiji elects one; the attorney general, as an ex officio member, occupies the remaining seat. Anecdotal information from regional media reported unverified claims of foreign interference during election campaigning.Participation of Women and Members of Minority Groups: No law limits the participation of women or members of historically marginalized groups in the political process. Participation by women is low, largely due to traditional perceptions of their role in society. Four women were elected to the legislature in 2020, comprising 9 percent of that body, compared with three women in the 2016 elections. In 2020, parliament appointed its first female speaker. Several women served as permanent secretaries and deputy secretaries in the administration.																																					Section 4.													 Corruption and Lack of Transparency in Government												    																																															The law provides criminal penalties for corruption by officials, but the government did not implement the law effectively.  There were no reports of serious government corruption during the year.  Officials sometimes engaged in petty corruption with impunity.Corruption:  According to Transparency International’s Global Corruption Barometer:  Pacific 2021, released in November, nepotism and favoritism based on tribal and church ties were prevalent.  The auditor general is responsible for oversight of government but lacked sufficient resources to enforce the law effectively.																																					Section 5.													 Governmental Posture Towards International and Nongovernmental Investigation of Alleged Abuses of Human Rights												    																																															Domestic and international human rights groups generally operated without government restriction, investigating and publishing their findings on human rights cases.  Government officials were generally cooperative and responsive to their views.Together with foreign partners, the government offered training to police, nongovernmental organizations, and church-based groups to develop strategies to strengthen human rights institutions and policies and to reduce discrimination against women.Government Human Rights Bodies:  A Human Rights Task Force and a Human Rights Unit based in the Ministry of Justice provide human rights training and monitoring, and coordinate implementation of human rights treaties.																																					Section 6.													 Discrimination and Societal Abuses												    																																																Women										Rape and Domestic Violence: Rape of women and men is a crime, with a maximum penalty of life in prison, but sentences typically were much shorter. Domestic violence is a crime. The law provides for penalties of up to six months in prison for common assault and up to five years in prison for assault involving bodily harm. The Police investigated cases of rape. There were, however, no court trials following the closure of the courts due to the pandemic and the suspension of the Chief Justice.The government, in partnership with UN Women, the Secretariat of the Pacific Community Regional Rights Resource Team, and development partners, offered training for police, public prosecutors, health workers, social welfare workers, education officials, elected officials, and nongovernmental organization workers to implement the law effectively. Domestic violence, often exacerbated by chronic alcohol abuse, continued to be a serious problem. Cultural taboos on reporting rape and domestic abuse and police attitudes encouraging reconciliation rather than prosecution existed.The government continued implementing the Gender Equality and Women’s Development Policy 2019-2022 that prioritized the elimination of sexual and gender-based violence. The police force has a Domestic Violence and Sexual Offenses Unit whose officers participated in a capacity-building program that provided training in handling such cases. Police ran a 24-hour hotline for victims of sexual violence and domestic abuse. The government’s Strengthening Peaceful Villages program, a community-based intervention program launched in 2019, continued to engage most of the country’s population, which resided in South Tarawa. The Kiribati Women and Children Support Center maintained its support for women and children affected by violence, providing victims with counseling and referral services. The Support Center operated a second shelter for women and children on Kiritimati Island, the second most populated island in the country. The Ministry of Health operated a clinic at the main hospital in Tarawa for victims of domestic violence and sexual offenses.Sexual Harassment: The law criminalizes sexual harassment and prescribes a fine for anyone found guilty of the offense. No harassment reports were known to have been filed with police.Reproductive Rights: There were no reports of coerced abortion or involuntary sterilization on the part of government authorities.There were no legal barriers or government policies that impeded access to sexual and reproductive health services. Conservative social and cultural attitudes inhibited access for some to the services.Access to contraception, as well as prenatal, obstetric, and postnatal care, was available from public health hospitals and centers, but health services were limited in outer islands. The Kiribati Family Health Association also offered mobile reproductive health clinic services, undertook public campaigns, and provided information and counseling on family planning, although cultural and religious influences remained barriers to access and utilization of services.The government provided sexual and reproductive health services, including emergency contraception, to survivors of sexual violence.Discrimination: The law prohibits discrimination based on gender in employment but not on other grounds (see section 7.d.); there were no reports of government enforcing the law. Women have equal access to education. Property ownership rights are generally the same for men and women, but land inheritance laws are patrilineal, and sons often inherited more land than daughters. The citizenship law contains some discriminatory provisions. For example, the foreign wife of a male citizen acquires citizenship automatically through the marriage, but the foreign husband of a female citizen does not. Mothers cannot confer nationality on their children. The government sought to address inequalities through the Gender Equality and Women’s Development Policy 2019-2022.																																				Systemic Racial or Ethnic Violence and Discrimination										There are no comprehensive legal protections against discrimination. The Employment and Industrial Relations Code protects racial or ethnic minorities or groups from discrimination in hiring and employment.The country is racially homogeneous. According to the 2020 census, the i-Kiribati population accounts for 95.7 percent of the population, with small minority groups including nationals of Tuvaluan descent.																																				Children										Birth Registration: Citizenship is acquired by birth in the country unless the child acquires the citizenship of another country at birth through a noncitizen parent. Citizenship may also be acquired by children of a noncitizen mother through the father, but mothers cannot confer nationality to their children with a noncitizen father. The law requires birth registration within 10 days.Child Abuse: The government and independent observers believed that child abuse, occasionally sexual, was a serious problem. According to the Kiribati Social Development Indicator Survey 2018-2019, child abuses were mainly in the form discipline by physical punishment, with nine in every 10 children aged 1-14 years surveyed had experienced some type of violent discipline. The ministry operated a helpline to respond to concerns on COVID-19, including issues on violence against children.Child, Early, and Forced Marriage: The legal minimum age for marriage is 21, or 17 with the permission of a parent or guardian. The law was generally respected, particularly in urban areas.Sexual Exploitation of Children: The law prohibits the procurement of any girl younger than 18 for the purpose of commercial sexual exploitation and prohibits using a child of either gender younger than 15 for commercial sexual exploitation. In both cases the maximum penalty is two years in prison. The minimum age for consensual sex is 15. Sexual relations with a girl younger than age 13 carry a maximum penalty of life imprisonment, and sexual relations with a girl aged 13 to 14 carry a maximum penalty of five years in prison. The victim’s consent is not a permissible defense under either provision; however, in the latter case, reasonable belief the victim was 15 or older is a permissible defense. While this provision applies only to female children, male-on-male sexual exploitation of children can be prosecuted under provisions against “unnatural” offenses (which cover both male and female victims) and as acts of “gross indecency between males,” with maximum penalties of 14 and five years in prison, respectively. The penal code has no specific provision concerning child pornography. Enforcement of the law was weak and there were no reported cases or prosecutions.A nongovernmental source noted that the government’s stringent COVID-19 port-related measures and border closures prevented crewmembers of foreign fishing vessels exploiting underage girls.																																				Antisemitism										There is no permanent Jewish community, and there were no known reports of antisemitic acts.																																				Trafficking in Persons										There were no confirmed reports during the year that traffickers exploited domestic or foreign victims or that traffickers exploited victims from the country abroad.																																				Acts of Violence, Criminalization, and Other Abuses Based on Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity or Expression, or Sex Characteristics										Criminalization: Consensual sexual conduct between men is illegal, with penalties from five to 14 years’ imprisonment depending on the nature of the offense, but there have been no reports of prosecutions under these provisions for many years. The existence of the sodomy law fosters stigma against all persons who engage in homosexual acts, including lesbian and bisexual women.Violence against LGBTQI+ Persons:There were no reports of investigations into violence or abuse against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTQI+) persons; however, fear of identification, arrest, and sever discrimination or violence from police, family members, or strangers often prevents reporting.Discrimination: The law prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation in employment. Otherwise, no antidiscrimination law exists to protect LGBTQI+ individuals. There were no government reports of discrimination due to LGBTQI+ status, but the scope of discrimination was difficult to measure due to LGBTQI+ individuals’ fear of revealing their sexual orientation or gender identity. According to the Kiribati Social Development Indicator Survey 2018-2019, 2.3 percent of women and 1.3 percent of men surveyed experienced discrimination and harassment based on their sexual orientation. There are no hate crime or antigay propaganda laws, nor are there criminal justice mechanisms to aid in the prosecution of bias-motivated crimes against members of the LGBTQI+ community.Availability of Legal Gender Recognition: Legal gender recognition was not available, and societal norms prevented transgender or nonbinary individuals from publicly discussing or expressing their gender identity.Involuntary or Coercive Medical or Psychological Practices Specifically Targeting LGBTQI+ Individuals: While no such practices were reported by the government, human rights organizations reported that social, cultural, and religious intolerance led to recurrent attempts to “convert” LGBTQI+ individuals informally through family, religious, medical, educational, or other community pressures.Restrictions of Freedom of Expression, Association, or Peaceful Assembly: There are no legal restrictions on those speaking out about LGBTQI+ issues, such as so-called antigay propaganda laws, or &#8216;hate speech&#8217; laws; there were no restrictions on the ability of LGBTQI+ organizations to legally register or convene public events.																																				Persons with Disabilities										There are no overall legal protections for persons with disabilities. The law prohibits discrimination in employment against persons with disabilities. It does not define disability but prescribes a fine for anyone found guilty of the offense. The law was not enforced.Public infrastructure and essential services did not meet the needs of persons with disabilities. Access to buildings, communications, and information for persons with disabilities is not mandated, and there were no specific accommodations for persons with disabilities.Most children with disabilities did not have access to education. Seven schools in the outer islands, the teacher’s college, and the Ministry of Education headquarters were accessible for children and staff with physical disabilities.The Ministry of Women, Youth, and Social Affairs is responsible for protecting the rights of persons with disabilities.																																					Section 7.													 Worker Rights												    																																																a. Freedom of Association and the Right to Collective Bargaining										The law provides for the right of workers to form and join independent unions, conduct strikes, and bargain collectively. The government does not control or restrict union activities; however, unions must register with the government. The law prohibits antiunion discrimination at the time of hiring and while employed but does not specifically provide for reinstatement of workers fired for union activity.The government effectively enforced the laws protecting freedom of association, collective bargaining, and the right to strike for workers. Penalties for violations included fines or imprisonment and were commensurate with other laws involving denials of civil rights, such as discrimination. There were no reports of lengthy delays or appeal processes during dispute resolution, and government regularly applied penalties against violators.The law allows for compulsory arbitration in a wider range of cases than generally recommended in international standards. Similarly, the definition of “essential services,” in which the right to strike is limited, includes a broader range of sectors than do international standards. The penalties for unlawful strikes in both essential and nonessential sectors include imprisonment and a fine.The government and employers generally respected freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining. The Kiribati Trade Union Congress claimed 3,000 members, including unions and associations for nurses, teachers, fishermen, and seafarers who were able to exercise their labor rights.In keeping with tradition, negotiations generally were nonconfrontational. There were no known collective-bargaining agreements and no instances reported of denial of the right to strike. There were no reports of antiunion discrimination.																																				b. Prohibition of Forced or Compulsory Labor										The constitution and laws prohibit most forms of forced or compulsory labor, with some exceptions regarding times of emergency or “calamity.” The law prescribes penalties of fines and imprisonment that are commensurate with those for similar serious crimes. The government enforced the law, and there were no reports of forced labor.																																				c. Prohibition of Child Labor and Minimum Age for Employment										See the Department of Labor’s Findings on the Worst Forms of Child Labor at  https://www.dol.gov/agencies/ilab/resources/reports/child-labor/findings/ .																																				d. Discrimination with Respect to Employment and Occupation										The law prohibits discrimination in employment based on ethnic origin, race, color, sex, pregnancy, marital status, sexual orientation or family responsibilities, religion or political opinion, age, state of health, disability, or membership of a trade union, and prohibits sexual harassment. The government did not consistently enforce the law. Penalties for violations include fines and were commensurate with similar laws related to civil rights, and government regularly applied penalties against violators. There were credible reports of discrimination in employment and occupation from persons with disabilities, who faced discrimination in hiring and access to worksites. There are no legal restrictions against women in employment to include limiting working hours, occupations, or tasks. Cultural barriers such as the perceptions of the subordinate social status of women, however, impeded women from playing a more active role in the economy.																																				e. Acceptable Conditions of Work										Wage and Hour Laws: The national minimum wage for employees of local businesses and companies was above the poverty line, but it was lower than the minimum wage rate for employees of foreign funded projects. Most of the working population worked in the informal, subsistence economy where the law was not enforced. The Public Service Office sets wages in the public sector, which comprises approximately 80 percent of employment in the formal economy.The law sets the workweek at 40 hours. The law provides for paid annual holidays for all employees except casual workers and 12 weeks for maternity leave, but it leaves the determination up to individual employment contracts, which are then submitted to the Ministry of Employment and Human Resource for documentation. Workers in the public sector worked 36.25 hours per week, with overtime pay required for additional hours. No law or regulation governs the amount of overtime an employee may work.Occupational Safety and Health: The Ministry of Employment and Human Resource is responsible for enforcing basic occupational safety and health standards which were appropriate for the main industries of the country. Employers are liable for the expenses of workers injured on the job. By law workers may remove themselves from situations that endanger their health or safety without threat to their employment. The ministry conducted labor inspections and did not receive any work-related injury complaints in the year to September.Wage, Hour, and OSH Enforcement: The government generally enforced minimum wage and safety regulations in the formal sector, but enforcement of overtime regulations was weak. Penalties for violations include fines commensurate with those for similar crimes, such as fraud and negligence, however, it was not reported whether penalties were applied against violators of minimum wage, overtime, and occupational safety and health laws. Inspectors have the authority to make unannounced inspections and initiate sanctions and the number of inspectors was sufficient to enforce compliance and.Informal Sector: The informal sector provided an important source of livelihood, as employment opportunities in the formal sector were limited. An estimated 80 percent of the working population worked in the informal sector, involved in agriculture, fishing, food preparation and sales, and home-based activities. There was no systematic process to record and report workplace injuries. A lack of resources and qualified personnel restricted the government’s ability to enforce employment laws effectively in the informal sector.																																				    							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- Investing in the Future of the Pacific: U.S. Assistance Continues to Address WWII-era Explosive Hazards Bureau of Political-Military AffairsOffice of Weapons Removal and AbatementEthan RinksSeventy-seven years after the end of World War II, Pacific Island nations still face the daunting challenge of post-war impacts: unexploded ordnance (UXO) and abandoned munitions littered throughout the vast expanse of the region.  At the height of WWII from 1941 to 1945, military forces from the United States, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand clashed in a series of battles across the Pacific Islands.  Large stocks of munitions predominantly from the United States and Japan were shipped to various islands to support ongoing military operations.  Unused and abandoned munitions as well as other explosive items that failed to detonate were left scattered across islands and atolls, buried in the sand, or submerged in surrounding lagoons.  At the conclusion of WWII, a large amount of UXO remained, posing a significant threat to local communities.  After more than seven decades, the presence of WWII ordnance continues to affect nine Pacific Island nations: Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, the Marshall Islands, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu. The United States has been at the forefront of unexploded ordnance remediation efforts, alongside allies and partners like Australia, Japan, and New Zealand, through its conventional weapons destruction program.  Progress to date has been significant, but there is much more to do.  The United States is a Pacific nation—geographically, economically, historically, and culturally—and remains invested in supporting a prosperous Pacific.  Identifying and destroying explosive hazards is critical to sustaining that success by making land safe for our Pacific Island allies and partners to grow their economies through sustainable development. In countries where land is scarce, clearing unexploded ordnance can have an outsized impact.  WWII-era bombs being prepared for destruction by Palau Explosive Ordnance Disposal teams. (Photo Norwegian People’s Aid photo) In Palau, the United States supports UXO clearance through the National UXO Safety Office.  The United States has committed more than $5.4 million to create a national UXO survey plan, conduct clearance operations, and build the capacity of the Government of Palau to identify and destroy UXO.  Since 2020, the United States has funded the return of more than 80 acres of land back to local populations and destroyed 2,294 UXO with U.S. implementing partner Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA).  Royal Solomon Islands Police Force Explosive Ordnance Disposal personnel lift a WWII-era bomb prior to destruction. (Golden West Humanitarian Foundation photo)In Solomon Islands, the United States has provided more than $6.8 million since 2009 to establish an explosive ordnance disposal  team with the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force and build national capacity to identify and destroy Explosive Remnants of War.  This included training 13 engineers who have conducted over 1,200 EOD callouts and destroyed more than 29,746 items of UXO with implementing partner Golden West Humanitarian Foundation since 2009.  The United States is ramping up its efforts in Solomon Islands as Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman discussed with Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare during her August visit to Honiara.    A U.S.-funded team in Marshall Islands utilizes a mobile bomb cutting system. This process cuts UXO to expose explosive filler for a safe burn out of the explosives, leaving the remaining materials explosive-free. (Golden West Humanitarian Foundation photo)The United States has invested more than $2 million in the Republic of Marshall Islands for UXO technical survey and explosive ordnance disposal operations on 12 islands spread across five atolls.  This includes critical cooperation through the Marshall Islands’ Historic Preservation Office to identify and catalogue U.S. and Japan-origin ordnance.  United States funding to the Golden West Humanitarian Foundation has helped find and destroy over 140 air-dropped bombs, mortars, sea mines, and other explosive hazards that threatened local communities.  The United States is working with Republic of Marshall Islands to expand cooperation and further advance UXO remediation throughout the island nation.  The United States has also supported short-term deployments by PM/WRA’s Quick Reaction Force to address UXO contamination throughout the Pacific. (Golden West Humanitarian Foundation photo)The United States’ Quick Reaction Force has also been critical to the safety and security of UXO threats in the Pacific.  It is a team of civilian explosive ordnance disposal technical experts that serve as first responders to unexpected UXO-related emergencies across the globe, including munitions depot explosions, ammunition depots at risk of imminent explosion, and Explosive Remnants of War that pose significant threats to civilians.  The Quick Reaction Force has addressed UXO requirements throughout the Pacific in the Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, the Marshall Islands, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and Tuvalu. The United States’ work over the past decade with Pacific Island partners to remediate WWII-era explosive hazards is foundational for a prosperous Pacific, and the United States will continue building on these partnerships to enhance host nation capacities that address UXO, and support survey and clearance, so that Pacific partners may advance development priorities on land free from UXO. The United States, through its conventional weapons destruction program, has funded work in the Pacific since 2009.  Since 1993, it has provided more than $4.7 billion in assistance to over 100 countries – making the United States the world’s single largest financial supporter of conventional weapons destruction.  For more information, check out our annual report, To Walk the Earth in Safety, and follow us on Twitter @StateDeptPM. About the Author: Ethan Rinks is the Program Manager for the East Asia and Pacific portfolio in the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement at the U.S. Department of State.  
- Governance of the Seas: Assistance to Pacific Island Partners Bureau of Political-Military AffairsOffice of Global Programs and InitiativesBex Melvin and Luke HanstedtOn September 28-29, 2022, representatives of the Federated States of Micronesia, Republic of Fiji, Republic of Kiribati, Republic of Nauru, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Republic of Palau, Independent State of Papua New Guinea, Independent State of Samoa, Solomon Islands, Kingdom of Tonga, Tuvalu, Republic of Vanuatu, and the United States will gather in Washington D.C. for the first-ever U.S.-Pacific Islands Summit.  The Summit, which will be hosted by President Biden, will “demonstrate the United States’ deep and enduring partnership with the Pacific Islands and the Pacific region that is underpinned by shared history, values, and people-to-people ties.”   The Summit will also offer opportunities to touch upon key issues such as climate change and the effects of natural disasters, how to safeguard the Blue Pacific Ocean and its resources, and ways to promote inclusive economic opportunity while ensuring peace and security.  The Summit will reinforce U.S. and Pacific Islands efforts to implement our respective guiding documents, including the Pacific Island Forum 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent and the U.S. Indo-Pacific Strategy, which promotes a free, open, transparent, prosperous, and resilient Pacific region.  Maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific region is vital to the economic prosperity and security of the United States and regional partners.   Indo-Pacific Challenges  Unfortunately, the Indo-Pacific region faces mounting challenges, including climate change, illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing and illegal research activities in island nations’ exclusive economic zones, as well as predatory economic investments that undermine democratic governance and enable corruption and human rights abuses.  Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) Activities:  The legal regime reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea provides for an EEZ extending up to 200 nautical miles from coastal baselines, within which the coastal state has sovereign rights for the purpose of exploring and exploiting, conserving and managing both living and non-living natural resources.  Bad actors are increasingly conducting activities in EEZs that are inconsistent with such sovereign rights, including interference with resource exploitation, IUU fishing, and conducting marine scientific research without coastal state consent. Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing:  According to President Biden’s National Security Memorandum on Combating Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated Fishing and Associated Labor Abuses, IUU fishing and related harmful fishing practices are among the greatest threat to ocean health and contribute to the collapse or decline of fisheries that are critical to the economic growth, food systems, and ecosystems of numerous Pacific Island nations.  These practices undermine the sustainability of fish stocks, circumvent conservation and management measures, and often go hand in hand with the use of forced labor and other illicit activities.   Climate Change:  Climate change remains the single greatest threat to the livelihoods, security, and well-being of people in the Pacific, as stated in the Pacific Island Forum Leaders’ Boe Declaration on Regional Security.  Climate change is growing ever-more severe as glaciers melt, and the Pacific Islands battle rising sea levels.  How the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs Helps to Promote “Governance of the Seas” Considering the strategic context and challenges mentioned above, and in support of the Indo-Pacific Strategy, the Political-Military Affairs Bureau seeks to improve maritime governance and institutional capacity in the Indo-Pacific region.  The Global Defense Reform Program (GDRP) is one tool for the United States to promote collective action in addressing these challenges unique to the Indo-Pacific in support of U.S. foreign policy priorities and international law.  Through GDRP, the Bureau provides several Pacific Island countries with regular advisory assistance to strengthen institutions to address our shared maritime security objectives, increase cooperation, and reinforce that the United States is a steadfast and reliable security partner in the region.  GDRP advisors coordinate closely with advisors from Australia, Japan, and other partner countries to promote an open, connected, prosperous, resilient, and secure Indo-Pacific.   In the Federated States of Micronesia and Republic of Marshall Islands, GDRP aims to increase these nations’ ability to detect and counter illicit activities in their respective exclusive economic zones enhancing partner nations’ maritime domain awareness and by enhancing coordination and cooperation between law enforcement and the justice sector.  GDRP also provides advisory support to Vanuatu to assist in strengthening maritime security institutions and capabilities, in support of Vanuatu’s National Security Strategy.  The Bureau&#8217;s advisory support has enabled Vanuatu to improve the maritime domain awareness tools and procedures it uses to monitor its exclusive economic zone. GDRP advisors have also helped the Government of Palau to improve maritime governance and maritime domain awareness.  GDRP has assisted Palau with improving maritime governance and maritime security capacity through better monitoring and surveillance of Palau’s exclusive economic zones, and by identifying and countering illicit activities such as IUU fishing.  In support of expanding Palau’s relationships in the region, the Political-Military Affairs Bureau has worked side-by-side with Palau to engage with counterparts in the Philippines to share best practices, explore joint operations opportunities, and share experiences amongst maritime domain awareness specialists.  These efforts will strengthen Palau’s maritime security by increasing its capacity to monitor Palau’s exclusive economic zone and detect and interdict vessels engaged in unlawful activity, while also benefitting the government of the Philippines through improved awareness and monitoring capabilities in the Philippine Sea. The Bureau of Political-Military Affairs’ Office of Global Programs and Initiatives manages the Global Defense Reform Program (GDRP) that seeks to enhance security sector governance and institutional capacity.  Since the inception of the GDRP Program in 2018, the Bureau&#8217;s consultative and partnership-based approach to institution capacity-building has increased local ownership and sustainability of program objectives.  GDRP advisory assistance around the world continues to promote processes to mitigate the risk of corruption and enhance transparency within the security sector.  Thadvocacy of good practices in security sector governance advances U.S. national security and shared interests, and promotes the alliances and partnerships needed to succeed in today&#8217;s competitive geopolitical environment. About the Authors: Bex Melvin and Luke Hanstedt serve as portfolio managers in the Political-Military Affairs Bureau’s Office of Global Programs and Initiatives.