Port Vila, Vanuatu 13 October 2026 – Child sexual abuse is one of the most serious threats facing children in Vanuatu today, and recent cases reported before the courts serve as a stark reminder that stronger action is urgently needed.
In recent months, several offenders have been convicted for sexual crimes against children, including cases involving fathers, grandparents, teachers, and other individuals in positions of trust. These cases have shocked communities across the country, but they also reveal a painful reality: many children are being harmed by people they know and depend on.
While the courts play an important role in delivering justice, a prison sentence alone cannot protect a child, heal the trauma they have suffered, or guarantee their future safety.
Far too often, the public learns what happens to the offender but hears little about what happens to the child. Questions remain about whether the child received protection, counselling, medical care, and long-term support. For children experiencing abuse, these needs are immediate and cannot wait for a criminal case to move through the justice system.
The proposed Child Protection Bill, currently before extra ordinary Parliament sitting, presents a critical opportunity to strengthen Vanuatu's response to child abuse and neglect. The legislation aims to establish clearer responsibilities for reporting concerns, strengthen the authority of child protection officers, and provide stronger legal mechanisms to intervene when a child's safety is at risk.
A child who discloses abuse needs more than an investigation. They need protection today, tomorrow, and throughout their recovery. They need a system that can respond quickly, ensure their safety, and connect them with the services and support they require.
The responsibility of protecting children does not rest with government agencies alone. Families, communities, churches, schools, chiefs, and civil society all have important roles to play. However, when abuse occurs within a family or community, informal arrangements are often not enough. Children need a strong and effective child protection system backed by law.
Passing the Child Protection Bill will be a significant step forward, but legislation must also be supported by adequate resources, trained child protection professionals, accessible services, and effective referral networks across all provinces, including rural and remote areas.
Every child in Vanuatu deserves to grow up safe from abuse, exploitation, and violence. When a child finds the courage to speak out, there must be a system ready to listen, respond, and protect.
As Members of Parliament consider the Child Protection Bill, there is an opportunity to make a lasting difference in the lives of Vanuatu's children. The children behind these heartbreaking stories deserve more than sympathy. They deserve action.
Vanuatu cannot change what has happened to these children, but it can strengthen what happens when the next child comes forward. The time to act is now.