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On June 11, 2026, the International Seminar on Global Governance for Human Security, co-organized by the Global Network Program, was held in a hybrid format.

The seminar welcomed Dr. Raelyn Lolohea Esau, Dean of the Faculty of Business and Public Administration at Tonga National University. Under the theme “Human Security and Mobility in the South Pacific: Past, Present, and Future,” Dr. Esau examined human security and mobility in the South Pacific from three perspectives: past, present, and future. Beginning with over 3,500 years of wayfinding tradition, she traced how historical disruptions—including colonial forced labour, nuclear displacement, and the drawing of territorial borders—have contributed to present-day vulnerabilities, including low Human Development Index (HDI) rankings, non-communicable diseases, gender-based violence, and youth unemployment. She also analysed the opportunities and human costs of labour mobility schemes, the limitations of existing international law, and presented three future scenarios: a deepening climate crisis, the construction of a rights-based mobility framework, and strengthened in-country human security.

A total of 45 students, faculty, and staff members participated in the seminar, with 28 attending in person and 17 joining online. During the question-and-answer session, participants actively exchanged views on a range of issues, including the cultural and religious challenges associated with leaving one’s home island, limited employment opportunities for those returning after extended periods abroad, the ability of Pacific Island countries to make their voices heard by major powers in addressing climate change, and the balance between education policy and brain drain. The seminar offered a valuable opportunity to deepen participants’ understanding of mobility as an expression of Pacific identity and to recognize the increasingly important role of the South Pacific in global discussions on human security, climate change, and development partnerships.