PORT VILA, NOVEMBER 24, 2025: The Ministry of Justice, Youth and Community Services (MJYCS) today launched a new practical language guide to help government agencies promote respectful and inclusive communications with and about people with disability.
The MJYCS Disability Communications Glossary, endorsed by the National Disability Committee, aims to improve understanding of the challenges facing people with disability and to support more inclusive conversations about their rights to education, healthcare, justice, employment and other opportunities.
People with disability include those with long-term physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory impairments who may face barriers to their full participation in society.
Advocates in Vanuatu have long emphasised that the words people use and hear shape beliefs, perceptions and actions. Exclusionary or inaccurate language can reinforce stigma and limit opportunities, including across government services.
Launching the glossary in Bislama and English, Human Rights Coordinator Albert Nalpini said: “Everyone in Vanuatu has the same rights, no matter their disability status or background. At the Ministry, our work on this glossary is part of a national effort to ensure justice and other government services are more inclusive and responsive.”
“To change our society for the better, we must first recognise the challenges facing people with disability in Vanuatu. Several departments already have plans to use this tool in their communications, and we hope it will help change attitudes, raise awareness and contribute to a fairer and greater understanding in Vanuatu where all people can participate with dignity and confidence,” said Mr Nalpini.
Australia supported the development of the glossary through the Vanuatu Australia Policing and Justice Program. First Secretary Development at the Australian High Commission, Mr Dominic Ransan-Cooper said: “Australia remains steadfast in our commitment to advocate for equal opportunities and support the Government of Vanuatu to address accessibility – in education, employment and public spaces.”
“The new Disability Communications Glossary is a practical and inclusive tool that promotes respectful, rights-based language around disability in both Bislama and English. I encourage everyone – individuals, organisations and government agencies across Vanuatu – to embrace this glossary and take tangible steps toward building a more inclusive society,” said Mr Ransan-Cooper.
The glossary was developed in collaboration with the MJYCS Disability Desk, the Vanuatu Disability Promotion and Advocacy Association (VDPA), the Vanuatu Society for People with Disability (VSPD) and the Vanuatu Skills Partnership. It is designed to be easy to use and accessible, offering clear guidance for everyday language across government and community services.
The development and use of the glossary is aligned to articles 9, 21 and 24 of the United Nations Convention of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. With Vanuatu having ratified the convention in 2008, the distribution of the glossary to frontline professionals and institutions will support more effective communication and inclusive service delivery.
