NGOs and CSOs praised for community support

Mar 25, 2026 | News | 0

Chairman of the Vanuatu Association of Non-Governmental Organisations (VANGO), Dr Willie Tokon, said he is proud of the work being carried out by civil society organisations (CSOs) and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) across Vanuatu.

Dr Tokon explained that although VANGO serves as an umbrella body for NGOs and CSOs in the country, individual organisations have the ability to operate independently.

He said many NGOs and CSOs are capable of preparing proposals, applying for grants, and successfully securing funding to support their initiatives.

“This is very good and something to be proud of,” he said.

Dr Tokon said that many NGOs and CSOs throughout Vanuatu are doing important work to assist communities.

During his time as Chairman of VANGO, one of his key priorities has been to ensure that the organisation’s 223 member NGOs and CSOs are able to actively engage in community development while maintaining their independence.

He said these organisations should be able to develop projects, write proposals, and access grants to support their activities in communities across the country.

Dr Tokon explained that VANGO primarily acts as an umbrella organisation and steps in when the need arises.

However, he emphasized that community-based organisations must also be able to stand on their own.

“These organisations are working directly in the communities, so they should be able to stand on their own. They just need support to access these kinds of funds,” he said.

He added that current efforts are only the beginning and stressed the importance of continued capacity building for CSOs so they can grow stronger and secure more grant funding from external partners.

“If we continue to support capacity building for CSOs and they grow like those that are already able to secure grants from outside, imagine what Vanuatu would be like. It would create a change of mindset in communities and reduce reliance on the government,” he said.

He added that stronger community organisations would encourage people to support one another and work together to address local challenges.

Dr Tokon also highlighted that some NGOs and CSOs in the country are already demonstrating self-dependence and self-reliance through the work they are doing in their communities.

“That is what we want. When disasters strike, we should not have to depend on others and go around asking for help. We need to turn to our own resources and people so that we can survive,” he added.

SOURCE: VANUATU DAILY POST

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She is frightened to return home, her mother may be financially dependent on the perpetrator, and younger children in the household may also be at risk. “The police can investigate the crime. But who assesses whether she is safe to go home that afternoon? Who helps her family find a safe way forward? Who ensures she receives medical care, counselling and ongoing support? And who follows up to make sure she remains safe?” the Ministry asks. “These questions cannot wait months or years for a criminal trial to conclude.” Vanuatu already has laws criminalising rape, incest and other sexual offences. Police, prosecutors and courts play an essential role in investigating crimes and holding perpetrators accountable. However, the MOJYCS says criminal investigations and child protection responses serve different purposes. “A criminal investigation asks whether an offence was committed and who is responsible. A child protection response must ask a different, equally urgent question: is this child safe, and what needs to happen now to protect them?” the Ministry says. “Protecting a child must begin when abuse comes to light, not when a perpetrator is convicted.” The Ministry says this is why the proposed Child Protection Bill matters. The Bill seeks to establish a stronger legal framework for protecting children at risk of abuse, neglect and exploitation. It would establish clearer reporting responsibilities, strengthen the authority of child protection officers to assess and respond to abuse, and provide mechanisms for emergency protection, court orders and safe alternative care. The MOJYCS says these measures would establish clear responsibilities and provide the legal authority needed to intervene when a child is in danger. “A child who discloses sexual abuse needs more than a police investigation. That child needs to be safe tonight, tomorrow and in the months and years that follow,” the Ministry says. Parliament has an opportunity to act The MOJYCS recognises that families, chiefs, churches and communities all have important roles in protecting children. However, it says informal arrangements and goodwill are not always enough when abuse occurs within a family or community. Children need a system with clear legal responsibilities, trained professionals and the authority to intervene when their safety is at risk, the Ministry says. It also cautions that legislation alone will not end child sexual abuse. A strong Child Protection Bill must be backed by trained child protection officers, accessible services, effective referral pathways and sustained investment, including in rural and remote communities. Without these investments, the MOJYCS warns, the promise of stronger legal protection risks remaining just that — a promise. For children experiencing abuse, the Ministry says, the issues are not abstract questions about legislation or government responsibilities. They concern immediate safety, dignity, care and recovery. The MOJYCS says a child’s access to protection should not depend on where they live, whom they know or whether someone happens to be available to help when they disclose abuse. “To the MPs who will consider the Child Protection Bill this month: the children behind these headlines deserve more than our concern. They deserve action,” the Ministry says. “Vanuatu cannot undo the abuse these children have suffered. But it can decide what happens when the next child comes forward. “Pass a strong Child Protection Bill. Commit the resources needed to make it work. And ensure that when a read more…

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