PORT VILA, MARCH 23 : The National Human Rights Unit, in conjunction with the Pacific Community’s Human Rights and Social Development Division (HRSD-SPC), recently concluded a nationwide scoping mission in March 2024 with the aim to soliciting public opinion on the feasibility of establishing a National Human Rights institution in Vanuatu. This important initiative, which had been underway for the past five years, was temporarily suspended due to the outbreak of COVID-19.

The purpose of the scoping mission was to elicit feedback from the public on the possible establishment of a National Human Rights institution, following Vanuatu's submission of its report on the second and third cycles to the Universal Periodic Review (UPR), a body under the United Nations General Assembly.

This year, the scoping mission was completed with the final consultations on Penama and Torba Province. The three-day consultations witnessed significant participation from government officials, NGO workers, civil society groups as well as members of the communities at large.

Jenny Tevi, Policy Advisor from the Ministry of Justice and Community Services, emphasized the importance of establishing a National Human Rights Institution, given that Vanuatu has signed six of the nine UN Conventions, and this office would work entirely towards their implementation.

She stressed that it was obvious the need of establishing such mechanisms to address the growing human rights abuse by individuals within families, communities and public at large was very crucial.

Participants at large requested the government through Ministry of Justice and Community Services to ensure that Human Rights awareness be conducted also in the most remote areas as most people living in these areas are not aware of their human rights. Ms Tevi explained that once the Human Rights institution will fully established, it will be able to advocate and punish perpetrators of Human Rights abuse, as it will act as court on its own and have its own commissioners for CRC,CEDAW,CRPD, ICCPR, CAT and UNCAT.

The institution will be fully independent and will function as a court but will get its funding from government.
Participants of the consultation emphasized the need for the new institution to be home-grown and in accordance with the Vanuatu’s constitution. The government, in partnership with the Human Rights unit, is now responsible for developing a legal framework to establish the institution.