Partners working to prevent and respond to Gender-Based Violence (GBV) have strengthened their capacity and coordination following a five-day Gender-Based Violence in Emergencies (GBViE) Minimum Standards Training held in Port Vila last week.
The training was jointly organised by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the Department of Women’s Affairs under the Ministry of Justice and Community Services, bringing together key stakeholders involved in GBV prevention and response across Vanuatu.
Participants included provincial officers from all six provinces working under the Ministry of Justice and Community Services, including officers responsible for the Child Desk, Disability Desk, and Department of Women’s Affairs provincial offices. The training also included key GBV response partners based in Port Vila, including the Vanuatu Women’s Centre and the Vanuatu Police Force.
The training was facilitated by UNFPA GBV in Emergencies Specialist, Jackline Obwanda, and focused on strengthening the capacity of partners to apply the GBV Minimum Standards when responding to cases of violence, particularly during times of disaster and emergency.
Director of Women’s Affairs, Mrs. Rothina Noka, highlighted the importance of strengthening preparedness and coordination among partners, noting that GBV is already occurring during times of peace and can increase during disasters, especially among affected populations.
“We all know that Gender-Based Violence is already happening during peace times and if we are not careful, these issues increase during disasters, especially in affected populations,” Mrs. Noka said.
She explained that one of the key objectives of the training was to strengthen how the Ministry of Justice, Youth and Community Services, as the lead for the Gender and Protection Cluster, responds to GBV issues at the provincial level.
“That is why we brought together provincial officers who are looking after the Child Desk, Disability Desk and Department of Women’s Affairs staff in the provinces, together with other GBV actors, to discuss the referral system between each partner during disasters and how we can support GBV survivors during emergencies,” she said.
Mrs. Noka said the training also focused on understanding what services are available for survivors on the ground and ensuring that support provided does not cause further harm to survivors.
“Another main focus for this five-day training is our coordination as partners who are addressing or working with GBV survivors in the provinces,” she added.
The GBV Minimum Standards provide guidance to ensure that survivors receive safe, confidential, respectful, and survivor-centred support. The standards also strengthen collaboration between agencies by improving referral pathways and ensuring that service providers understand their roles and responsibilities when responding to GBV cases.
Mrs. Noka acknowledged that many of the practices discussed during the GBViE training are already being carried out by officers working in the provinces. However, she said reviewing the Minimum Standards provides an opportunity to strengthen existing practices and ensure responses are guided by consistent standards.
“A lot of the things learned during the GBViE training are things that are already being done by officers in the provinces, but going through the Minimum Standards allows the different officers to deal with cases using standards that will not do any more harm to the survivors,” Mrs. Noka said.
The training forms part of ongoing efforts by the Government of Vanuatu, through the Ministry of Justice, Youth and Community Services, and partners including UNFPA, to strengthen the national GBV response system and ensure that women, girls, and all survivors of violence can access appropriate support during both normal times and emergencies.
Through strengthened coordination, shared standards, and improved referral systems, partners aim to build a more effective and survivor-centred GBV response across all provinces of Vanuatu.
