Fiji, Oct. 14 -- Tuvalu Prime Minister Feleti Teo has called on Pacific law officers to strengthen regional legal frameworks to protect countries' statehood, sovereignty and maritime boundaries from the impacts of climate change and rising sea levels.

Opening the 45th Pacific Islands Law Officers' Network (PILON) Annual Meeting in Funafuti on Tuesday, Teo urged members to expand their work to address the growing legal challenges facing Pacific island countries.

"Our legal community must examine and strengthen the legal instruments needed to protect permanent maritime boundaries, safeguard statehood under international law, and support legal frameworks for climate resilience," Teo said.

He said the region's legal institutions had an imp...