Port Vila, Vanuatu – 22 August 2025For the first time in Vanuatu’s history, a government minister has walked through the doors of the Vanuatu Women’s Centre (VWC) — and it sent a powerful message.

On 22 August 2025, the Minister of Justice, Youth, Sports and Community Services, Hon. Job Sam Andy, paid a landmark courtesy visit to the Centre, signalling the government’s growing commitment to stand alongside survivors of violence and the organizations that serve them.

Accompanied by senior officials — Director General Arthur Faerua, First Political Advisor George Amos, Director of Women’s Affairs Rothina Ilo Noka, and Human Rights Coordinator Albert Nalpini — the Minister toured the Centre’s legal, research, education, and counselling units. Each section revealed how VWC plays a frontline role in tackling violence against women and children across the nation.

The Minister didn’t just listen — he asked tough questions about the realities on the ground: how programs are being implemented in remote communities, what barriers survivors face, and how government partnerships could better support women and children seeking justice.

VWC’s Coordinator Ms. Tatavola Matas described the visit as “a moment of hope and recognition,” stressing that real change can only happen when government and civil society work hand in hand. The message was clear: violence is not just a private issue, but a national one — and collaboration is the key to ending it.

This first-of-its-kind visit is more than a political gesture. It is a turning point, a bridge between state institutions and grassroots services, and a reminder that building a safer, more respectful Vanuatu starts with leadership that listens.

Source: Vanuatu Women’s Centre