Human rights issues, which cut across all levels of society and spheres of life, cannot be addressed by any single agency, but instead require a multi-level and pluralistic effort. This also demands multiple talents and knowledge, contributed not only by SPC, but also by all the stakeholders with which we work. Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), in particular, often have unique reach, access and proximity to communities, and can amplify local perspectives and priorities. Many CSOs also represent specific segments of the population such as women, youth, or people with disabilities, who often otherwise lack platforms in formal decision-making structures, and whose perspectives and interests are often otherwise overlooked.

The Pacific People Advancing Change (PPAC) programme aims to build advocacy capacity among Pacific Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) engaged with human rights issues, while also advancing those issues by supporting specific campaigns. It does this through a package of assistance that includes advocacy training workshops, ongoing mentoring, provision of small grants, and facilitating regional dialogue and exchange for advocates. The programme also produces learning materials for use in the advocacy training, and by partner organisations. Funding comes from the Swedish Government through SIDA.

PPAC currently supports CSOs in five Pacific Island Countries – the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Solomon Islands, Tonga and Vanuatu. PPAC-supported CSOs and coalitions campaign on a wide variety of human rights issues, including gender-based violence, child rights and protection, labour issues, political representation of women, right to information, youth unemployment, disability rights, social harm of gambling, the rights of senior citizens, environmental issues, corruption, displacement, and climate change.