With less than 3 months until the beginning of the next cyclone season, the Vanuatu Ministry of Justice and Community Services (MJCS) aims to be disaster-ready.

To honor International Humanitarian Day on 19th August 2023, the MJCS acknowledges its partnership with the Vanuatu Australian Policing and Justice Program (VAPJP), and its support to drive a regional mapping of good justice sector practices during disaster.

This support is helping MJCS in its work to connect communities across Vanuatu with justice in times of crisis, and especially important as the country battles the climate crisis.

MJCS and VAPJP recently jointly presented this work at the Pacific Update 2023, cohosted by ANU’s Development Policy Centre and the University of the South Pacific (USP) in Fiji - a powerful forum for discussion of economic, social, political, and environmental issues in the region.

Representing Vanuatu in the Pacific Update 2023 Forum are Alice McGrath from Vanuatu Australian Policing and Justice Program and Jocelyn Loughman at the Ministry of Justice and Community Services.

The professional and knowledgeable presentation made by Vanuatu in Fiji was a very important step in addressing the challenges of the climate crisis in accessing all social services like justice.

The governments of Australia and Vanuatu stand firm in working together to advocate and take action on the climate crisis issues.