Violence against women and children is Vanuatu's most common crime, with 61 per cent of people incarcerated in jail for 'crimes against morality', which are generally sexual offences. Approximately 72 per cent of women in Vanuatu have experienced some form of physical or sexual violence in their lives, of whom 21 per cent were left with permanent injuries and 68 per cent were subjected to psychological violence by their intimate partners. While Vanuatu led the Pacific in introducing standalone legislation on family violence through the Family Protection Act 2008, the law has not been adequately implemented or enforced. Enhancing women’s agency During a review of Vanuatu’s Gender Equality Policy, it was found that poor political will, lack of technical, human and financial capacities, misconceptions about gender being a ‘women’s issue’, weak accountability and absence of incentives in tracking and evaluating progress were constraining factors to gender mainstreaming across the government. While some ministries and departments had developed sectoral gender plans and strategies, there is a need for systematically integrating gender responsive approaches to all government policies, programs and projects. Table 1: Bilateral Activities PROJECT NAME AND PARTNER DESCRIPTION BUDGET Outcome: Leadership and Decision Making Gender Equality Together: Strengthening Women’s Rights in Vanuatu Project (CARE Vanuatu) Strengthening the collective leadership, capacity and coordination of civil society and government actors in Vanuatu to more effectively work towards the promotion of gender equality and the elimination of violence against women and girls with and without disabilities in peacetime and disasters. $1,000,000 (2017–2018) Support the introduction of reserved seats for women at Provincial Council level (Pacific Leadership Program and the Department of Women’s Affairs, Ministry of Justice and Community Services) Supported the development of alternative approaches to increase women’s participation in politics. This project provided adaptive leadership training to women councilors to increase skills in advocacy and policy reform. $220,000 (2014–2017) Outcome: Economic Empowerment Support to the Alternative Communities Trade in Vanuatu (ACTIV) Improving packaging of products, promoting access to local and international markets. Women access skill-sharing sessions on the development of small scale agriculture production. $150,000 (2017–2018) Markets for Change (UN Women) Improving market governance, management, infrastructure and access to financial services to increase women's economic empowerment and $3,429,077 (2014–2019)
ensure markets are more sustainable, accessible and safe for women vendors. Improving training and employment outcomes for women and girls Vanuatu Skills Partnership (previously Vanuatu Skills for Economic Growth Program, previously known as the Vanuatu Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Sector Strengthening Program) Providing training for women with a focus on tourism and agribusiness, individual coaching to women to improve business skills and increase women’s opportunities for paid employment. $1,486,397 (2013–2019) Outcome: Ending Violence against Women Filming on domestic violence (Wan Smolbag Theatre) Partnership with Wan Smolbag Theatre to film series on women’s empowerment and domestic violence. $260,000 (2016–2019) Response to tropical cyclone Pam (Vanuatu Women’s Centre) Provided funding to the Vanuatu Women’s Centre to ensure that women’s needs are adequately addressed in recovery planning in Vanuatu. $500,000 (2015–2016) Research on improved access to justice for women and children (Policing and Justice Support Program) Completed research that maps out the ‘conflict management web’, with a special emphasis on how conflicts involving women and violence against women are managed and resolved in order to identify areas of innovation and strength, as well as areas of weakness. $200,000 (2015–2016) Prevention of violence against women (Vanuatu Women’s Centre) Exploring other ways to prevent gender violence that build on Vanuatu Women’s Centre’s work including: supporting the Department of Women’s Affairs to deliver and monitor the implementation of the Family Protection Act; conducting research on the crisis service needs of rural women; and providing financial and technical support as recommended by the crisis service provider research. $6,800,000 (2014–2021) Table 2: Regional Programs with Activities in Vanuatu PROJECT NAME AND PARTNER DESCRIPTION BUDGET Outcome: Leadership and Decision Making Shifting the Power Coalition (ActionAid Australia, femLINKpacific, Pacific Disability Forum, Nazareth Centre, Transcend Oceania, Talitha Project, YWCA PNG, YWCA Samoa, Vanuatu Young Women Working to ensure diverse Pacific women’s voices provide leadership in disaster planning and response at all levels in six countries. Expected outcomes are increased capacity to engage in disaster coordination mechanisms and influence decision making; documentation of needs and capacities in $895,000 (2018–2021)