The head of the Pacific Islands Association of NGOs (PIANGO) says she has travelled to New York to amplify regional concerns at the United Nations.
U.S. President Barack Obama addresses the United Nations General Assembly at UN headquarters, September 20, 2016 in New York City. According to the UN Secretary-General Ban ki-Moon, the most pressing matter to be discussed at the General Assembly is the world's refugee crisis. Photo: Drew Angerer/Getty Images/AFP
Countries are currently reporting to the global body on progress made in implementing their Sustainable Development Goals.
This year's focus is goal six - ensuring the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.
PIANGO's executive director Emele Duituturaga said the world had agreed to a sustainable development agenda of which the UN was the guardian.
Ms Duituturaga said she was also there to remind Pacific member states of their commitments.
"The role of civil society is to amplify the voices, to bring out the problems that communities are facing but sometimes you say it in your country people don't listen," she said.
"When you come to the United Nations and because you're saying it here people pay attention to that."
