PORT VILA, DECEMBER 1: The Office of the Public Solicitor (OPS) unanimously endorsed an ambitious reform program at its 2025 Annual Planning Conference. Marking an important milestone in the Office’s long-term efforts to strengthen legal aid services across Vanuatu, lawyers from across the country concluded detailed consideration of the Consultative and Policy Paper for the proposed Public Solicitor Act 2026.

The OPS plays a vital role in defending human rights, providing legal advice and representation in criminal, civil and family law cases, and supporting vulnerable groups including women, children and marginalised communities. Operating permanent offices in Port Vila, Santo, Tanna and Malekula, with circuit work to other islands, the OPS works to ensure that people across Vanuatu can access timely and fair legal support. The Office continues to face significant pressures, including rising case numbers, increasing legal complexity, and a current backlog of more than 600 active files.

This year’s conference in Port Vila was the first convened by Acting Public Solicitor, Ms Jane Tari, and the most significant OPS conference in many years. Across 34 hours of discussion and analysis, staff approved the Consultative and Policy Paper that forms the foundation for the proposed Public Solicitor Act 2026, alongside major organisational plans including the new Staff Manual, new Finance Regulations and the 2026 Business Plan.

“Our mission at the Office is to serve as many people as we can across the country. To deliver on that goal we need to reform our internal processes and reimagine our role within the justice

system,” said Ms Tari. “The existing Public Solicitor Act is more than 40 years old and no longer reflects the demands placed on the OPS under our constitutional mandate. Despite the dedication of our lawyers across the country, we recognise that changes are required. The Office is significantly understaffed, under-resourced, and facing rapidly increasing caseloads. The conference provided a unique opportunity to consider our policy reforms and the role the Office can play to strengthen the justice system into the future.”

Key gaps in the current legislation affect governance, service delivery, and the ability of the office to meet its constitutional responsibilities. These include the absence of a modern statutory framework for legal aid, limited powers for the Public Solicitor to delegate or appoint deputies, no mechanisms for cost recovery, and no statutory protections for independence or adequate resourcing.

OPS staff contributions have helped shape the next phase of the OPS Reform Program, including preparations for the 2026 Supplementary Budget and the legislative process for the new Act. Representatives of the Vanuatu Law Reform Commission (VLRC) attended the conference as part of their formal consultation process, marking a significant step forward in legislative preparation.

The Office of the Public Solicitor of Vanuatu (OPS Vanuatu) and the Office of the Public Solicitor of Papua New Guinea (OPS PNG) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in Port Vila, marking a significant step in strengthening justice services and deepening ties between the two Melanesian neighbours.

The MOU reinforces a shared commitment to improve access to justice through cooperation in legal aid development, professional training, policy collaboration, and institutional strengthening.

Acting Public Prosecutor Jane Tari noted that the partnership began with the introduction of the Wantok Legal Network program in August 2024, followed by a courtesy visit from the PNG Public Solicitor in June 2024. Momentum increased in August 2025 when OPS Vanuatu officers Senior Henzler Vira and Glenn Talae travelled to PNG to refine the MOU framework and identify mutual training opportunities.

OPS Vanuatu expressed appreciation to all who supported the process, including the PNG Public Solicitor and his team, the Vanuatu Australia Policing and Justice Program (VAPJP) for early financial backing, VAPJP’s OPS Advisor Mr. Philip Smith for ongoing guidance, and the technical teams and stakeholders from both countries.

PNG Public Solicitor Mr. Leslie Benjamine Mamu highlighted PNG’s leadership in the Wantok Legal Network, which connects PNG with Solomon Islands and Fiji, and welcomed Vanuatu’s inclusion. He noted that the MOU aligns with regional priorities under the Melanesian Spearhead Group and the Pacific Islands Forum, supporting cooperation in capacity building, staff exchanges, knowledge sharing, law reform, and institutional performance.

Through this partnership, Vanuatu will benefit from PNG’s extensive legal aid experience, while PNG will gain from Vanuatu’s strengths in customary law, community-focused services, and small-jurisdiction governance. Both countries expect the agreement to enhance the delivery of legal services for citizens who rely on free representation to protect their rights and wellbeing.

Both Public Solicitor Offices reaffirmed their commitment to keeping the partnership active, practical, and results focused. The MOU represents not just an agreement, but an ongoing collaboration that will continue to grow in the years ahead.

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.

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A month-long professional exchange in Vanuatu has given Solomon Islands Law Reform Commission (SILRC) legal officer Laisa Doedoke an immersive look into how communities, culture, and law reform intersect across the region. Currently based in Port Vila under the Solomon Islands–Vanuatu Twinning Program, Ms. Doedoke has spent November working alongside the Vanuatu Law Reform Commission (VLRC) an experience she describes as both transformative and professionally enriching.

One of the highlights of her attachment was joining the VLRC team for national consultations in Tanna, Tafea Province, from 4 to 13 November 2025. The consultations focused on key reform areas including the Police Act (Cap 105), the Maintenance of Family and Children Act, and laws relating to Wills, Probate, Administration, and Succession.

Ms. Doedoke said the experience offered powerful insights into how traditional governance systems, particularly chiefly and nakamal structures, shape community organization and support open dialogue. She was also struck by the unity and hospitality of Tanna communities, noting that being welcomed by chiefs and visiting Mount Yasur reflected the strong value placed on contributing to national law reform processes.

While many aspects of the consultations were similar to those in the Solomon Islands, she observed several unique cultural dynamics in Tanna. Challenges included sudden logistical changes, limited participation from women in certain communities, language barriers in remote areas, and the early difficulty of adjusting to Bislama. She recommended improving communication with local contacts, organizing dedicated consultations for women, preparing translators in advance, and providing cultural orientation for visiting officers to support smoother future engagements.

Laisa Doedoke, who hails from Isabel Province, emphasized that the Twinning Program enhances professional development, strengthens institutional relationships, and builds shared understanding of legal systems across the region. She encouraged future SILRC participants to approach the exchange with an open mind and a willingness to learn from both the professional work and the cultural experiences it offers.

She expressed her gratitude to ASIPJ, the Solomon Islands Government, the Vanuatu Law Reform Commission, and the Solomon Islands Law Reform Commission for supporting her participation and described the program as a valuable and transformative opportunity. Ms. Doedoke arrived in Port Vila on 1 November 2025 and will conclude her one-month placement on 30 November 2025.