Child sexual abuse: Vanuatu cannot afford to look away
October 15, 2026
Child sexual abuse cases have revealed a disturbing pattern: children are being abused not by strangers, but by people they know and trust, including fathers, relatives, teachers and others in positions of responsibility. Vanuatu cannot undo the sexual abuse many children have suffered. But it can decide what happens when the next child comes forward. With the Child Protection Bill before Parliament this month, Members of Parliament (MPs) have an important opportunity to strengthen protections for children and ensure a stronger response to abuse. The Ministry of Justice, Youth and Community Services (MOJYCS) says recent cases demonstrate the need for a stronger national response, including protection and support for children beyond the criminal prosecution of offenders. A five-year-old girl was sexually assaulted by her father, who was sentenced to five years and six months in prison in August this year. That same month, a grandfather was sentenced to more than four years in prison for sexually abusing his granddaughter. In September, a former teacher was sentenced for sexual offences against two 15-year-old students. In March, a man was sentenced for raping a 12-year-old girl. The abuse resulted in her pregnancy. These are among the child sexual abuse cases reported in Vanuatu’s newspapers in 2026. The Ministry says they represent only part of the problem. The Vanuatu Women’s Centre’s national survey, released in March 2026, found that nearly one in three women (30 per cent) had experienced sexual abuse before the age of 15. The MOJYCS says many children never disclose what has happened to them, particularly when the perpetrator is someone they love, fear or depend on. “We cannot continue to treat these cases as isolated tragedies. Child sexual abuse is a serious and widespread problem that demands a stronger national response,” the Ministry says. A prison sentence is not a child protection plan The Ministry argues that reports of criminal convictions reveal much less about what happens to the children themselves after abuse is discovered. “The cases reported in the newspapers tell us something about how Vanuatu’s criminal justice system responds to child sexual abuse. But they tell us much less about what happens to the children themselves,” MOJYCS says. Referring to the five-year-old girl whose father was sentenced for sexually assaulting her, the Ministry says the court’s decision explains the consequences for the perpetrator but does not establish what protection was put in place when the abuse came to light, whether other children were at risk or what support was available to help her recover. These questions, the Ministry says, are just as important as the criminal prosecution. The MOJYCS describes a situation in which a girl tells her teacher that someone at home has been sexually abusing her. 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…
