Port Vila, 12-02-2025 –  The Ministry of Justice and Community Services (MJCS) has officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MOIA) to further strengthen collaboration between key sectors. This MOU was signed by Director General Arthur Faerua of MJCS and Director General Leith Veremaito of MOIA, with a shared focus on improving services for vulnerable children in our community.

The agreement specifically aims to enhance the partnership between the Child Desk, under the Ministry of Justice and Community Services, and the Department of Civil Registry and Identity Management (CRIM), which operates under the Ministry of Internal Affairs. This cooperation is a significant step toward improving the quality of child protection services in the country.

The primary goal of this collaboration is to integrate the newly developed Child Protection Information Management System with the CRIM system. This will ensure that information related to children in need of protection is accurate and up-to-date, thereby improving the tracking and management of child protection services provided by the Child Desk.

Director General Arthur Faerua acknowledged the importance of this agreement, stating, "This partnership will allow us to better support vulnerable children by ensuring accurate data is used to track their progress and provide timely interventions." He expressed his gratitude to the Ministry of Internal Affairs for their invaluable contribution to the initiative.

Director General Leith Veremaito emphasized the critical role of the Department of Civil Registry and Identity Management, noting, "Our department is responsible for providing National ID numbers and other essential personal data for all citizens and residents. By collaborating with the Child Desk, we can better identify and serve children who may need care and protection." He added that this partnership will further strengthen the country’s efforts to protect and support children.

The Department of Civil Registry and Identity Management is the nation’s primary source of accurate citizen data, making this partnership crucial in providing necessary care and protection for children in need.