Jayapura, Jubi – Pacific Islands Forum leaders are expected to receive an update on efforts to facilitate a visit by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to West Papua when they meet in Palau next week.
Forum Deputy Secretary-General Esala Nayasi said the Forum Secretariat had discussed the next steps with the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG), following a decision by Pacific leaders last year to facilitate the UN human rights visit through consultations with the MSG.
"We haven't made a decision, but the leaders have. We need to work with the MSG on this," Mr Nayasi told Pacific journalists in Palau.
He said discussions had been held this week with newly appointed MSG Director-General Dr Anna Naupa on how to move the issue forward.
"We had initial discussions earlier this week with the Director-General of the MSG on the way forward," he said.
The Forum leaders have also appointed two special envoys to assist with regional engagement with Indonesia over West Papua.
The envoys are Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka and Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape.
Mr Nayasi said the appointment of the special envoys was part of efforts to advance the issue and provide a regional channel for engagement with Indonesia.
He said leaders could receive an update next week on progress made since their decision last year.
The 2025 Forum Leaders' Communique called for efforts to facilitate a visit by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to West Papua in 2026, through the appointed special envoys and in consultation with the MSG.
Mr Nayasi said efforts to facilitate the visit were continuing.
"The communique actually said to facilitate a visit in 2026 by the envoys whenever they want to go. So that's the discussion that is ongoing at the moment," he said.
He said the arrival of the MSG's new Director-General provided an opportunity for the Forum and the MSG to strengthen coordination on the issue.
"And now that the Director-General has taken up her position, we're very much looking forward to seeing how we can take that forward," Mr Nayasi said.
The issue of West Papua remains on the Forum's regional agenda, with member countries continuing to discuss human rights concerns and engagement with Indonesia.
Mr Nayasi said the Forum Secretariat would continue working with the MSG and the two special envoys as leaders discuss the issue in Palau next week.