Activities to help communities understand benefits of proposed legislation.
PORT VILA, April 23: Starting on April 22, an awareness campaign began across Efate and its offshore islands to promote the new Child Protection Bill.
This national campaign is financially supported by the Vanuatu Association of Non-Government Organizations (VANGO) through Save the Children Vanuatu, to increase community understanding of the Bill, protect children’s rights, and show the public and government the NGOs and Civil Society fully support the new bill.
Honourable John Amos Nalau, Minister for Justice and Community Services, emphasised the importance of this campaign, stating that people need to understand why the Child Protection Bill is important before it is endorsed by parliament later this year.
Mr Nalau emphasised the importance of community involvement in the awareness for the Child Protection Bill, as it will safeguard and protect children in the future.
The Minister further explained that the children of Vanuatu are amongst the most vulnerable members of our society and can experience different forms of issues such as abuse, violence, and abandonment.
“Together it is our society’s duty to protect children,” he said. The critical new bill proposed actions to promote awareness of risks children face, prevent child abuse and protect vulnerable children. It is an important moment for our country’s children and our MJCS teams look forward to sharing the bill’s positive impacts with communities.
The Honourable Minister also confirmed that the bill is in its final stage and ready to be tabled in parliament, having completed all necessary processes, and praised the collaboration between Ministry and VANGO for the nationwide awareness.
The team conducting the awareness campaign consists of staff from the Child Desk, Disability Desk, Department of Youth Sports, Vanuatu Police Force, Save the Children, Malvatumauri Council of Chiefs and VANGO.
They launched the campaign on April 22 and will spend this week visiting eleven Area Councils on Efate and offshore islands.
After Shefa Province, the team will travel to Sanma, Malampa, Penama, Torba and Tafea Provinces in May.