The Voice, Vision, and Power Behind Sista

Jan 21, 2026 | Balance of Power, Sista i Shine | 0

Name: Yasmine Bjornum Covo

Position: Founder & Director, Sista

Island: Vanuatu

“My life is a gift from God. How I live my life is my gift back to Him.”

This powerful quote is more than just a mantra for Yasmine Bjornum Covo —it is the philosophy that guides her activism, her leadership, and her personal journey.

Born and raised in Vanuatu, Yasmine is the founder and force behind Sista, a grassroots feminist organisation and media platform she launched in 2016. Before starting Sista, Yasmine studied journalism and creative writing at the University of Technology in Sydney. She did not finish her degree as she faced an unplanned pregnancy. Facing the journey alone, Yasmine experienced the stigma of being a single mother and saw the importance of creating spaces so that women can connect, share their stories and uplift each other.

What began as a digital platform to amplify women’s voices has since evolved into a nationally recognised organization working on gender-based violence, women’s leadership, civic engagement, and the creative arts.

Yasmine didn’t just want to create a platform—she wanted to change norms. “Our hope is that women and girls are able to make decisions that affect their lives and to have a voice,” she says.

Sista is known for its unapologetically bold presence. Its campaigns incorporate music, fashion, visual art, and media. For Yasmine, culture is not separate from activism—it is the vehicle through which social change can happen.

Yasmine is not afraid to speak uncomfortable truths. In her feminist advocacy, she has faced criticism from within the Pacific feminist movement for her opinions on gender and identity. Yet she holds fast to the need for respectful dialogue and cultural sensitivity. Her approach to feminism is grounded in values, not trends. “I think Sista’s biggest challenge is to consider how we progress gender equality while still respecting Christian principles and Melanesian values. It’s why Sista is adamant we need to have uncomfortable conversations so we can move forward as a prosperous nation for all, but still protect Vanuatu’s identity.”

Despite her international education and experience, Yasmine’s heart remains firmly rooted in Vanuatu. “I joke that my blood is Filipino and Swedish, but my heart is Ni-Vanuatu. I’m very proud of my country, and I am more certain of this the more I travel around the world. We are a peaceful country, rich in resources, and full of decent people. We don’t even realize how blessed we are,” she reflects.

Yasmine sees civil society not as a platform for individual ego but a space for collective service. “If you’re in this space for money, power, or ego, go to the private sector. Civil society is for those who want to serve their country and people.”

Yasmine encourages people to not just focus on formal education to better their lives. “We all have smartphones and the internet. If you don’t know how to do something, learn how to do it online,” she advises. “Don’t have a mindset of ‘getting a job’. Create your own dream job. Be your own boss. Our nation is young and we need to foster an entrepreneurial mindset.”

Through Sista, Yasmine works at the intersection of culture, gender equality, and development. The organisation is deeply involved in issues like empowerment, women in leadership, and movement-building.

When asked what her final words would be if today were her last day, Yasmine answers without hesitation: “I am aware that life is a blessing and that God doesn’t promise tomorrow. So I don’t have any final words. I try to say everything from my heart now, and match it with action, and live each day like it’s my last, just in case it is.”

That urgency and sincerity define everything she does. Fierce, grounded, and visionary, Yasmine Bjornum Covo continues to build a life—and a movement—that empowers women to dream, speak, and lead. She is not just creating space. She is creating change.

SOURCE: VANUATU DAILY POST

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Skills competition brings Pacific nations together in Vanuatu October 21, 2026
Vanuatu has welcomed young skilled competitors from across the Pacific for the 2026 Vanuatu National Skills Competition and International Friendly Skills Competition, which opened in Port Vila yesterday, October 19. Competitors from Timor-Leste, Fiji, Tonga, Tuvalu, Nauru and Kiribati have joined Vanuatu participants for the competition, which aims to promote practical skills, technical education and training opportunities for young people. Chairman of the organising committee and Vanuatu Institute of Technology (VIT) Principal Wade Evans said the competition was an opportunity for young people to demonstrate how practical skills could contribute to national development and improve people’s lives. Speaking at the opening ceremony, Evans said the event was not only about the organisers but, more importantly, about the young people who had volunteered to represent their countries. “This competition is something that we in the Pacific, we humanists, we young, we small countries, we can make a difference by excelling in skills,” he said. He said the competition could inspire young people and communities to recognise the importance of skills in improving family livelihoods and creating opportunities for individuals. Evans also acknowledged Timor-Leste for inspiring Vanuatu to organise its own international skills competition after a Vanuatu delegation participated in a similar event there earlier this year. He thanked the organising committee, Pacific Australia Skills, the Ministry of Education and Training, Vanuatu Skills Partnership and Vanuatu Qualifications Authority for their support in bringing the event together. The competition will also feature other activities during the week, including a fashion show on Tuesday, a panel discussion on Wednesday covering artificial intelligence, green skills and skills in schools, and a cultural performance by VIT students on Thursday. Evans said the activities would demonstrate the connection between practical skills and culture, while giving visiting delegations opportunities to exchange experiences and build relationships. Representing the Minister of Education and Training, Simil Johnson, newly elected Ambae Member of Parliament (MP) Howard Aru welcomed the international competitors and recognised the efforts of Vanuatu’s national participants. MPAru said the competition provided an opportunity to celebrate the contribution skilled workers make to the country’s development. He said the Government’s proposed 60:40 plan aimed to strengthen skills development within the national curriculum, with trials already under way at three schools. Aru said Vanuatu needed skilled people who could build, install, maintain, produce and repair, as well as solve problems, manage businesses and introduce new ideas into their communities. “Practical skills help families earn an income. Businesses improve their services,” he said. He said technical and vocational education and training should be recognised as valuable pathways to further education, employment and business opportunities. Aru also stressed the importance of preparing young people for changing workplace demands, including digital technologies, renewable energy and sustainable practices. He said schools, training providers, employers and communities needed to work together to ensure young people received relevant training and opportunities to apply their skills. Drawing on his own experience as a parent, Aru said he strongly believed in skills education after encouraging his son to pursue a skills-based pathway rather than a conventional academic route. He said his son was now working with a company in Port Vila, and his friends had also become interested in skills training after seeing the pathway he had taken. Aru said climate change challenges and the needs of local businesses would continue to create opportunities for skilled workers in Vanuatu. He encouraged competitors to prepare carefully, work safely, manage their time and focus on the quality of their work, while respecting fellow competitors and learning from the experience. He also called on employers and industry partners to continue supporting skills development and strengthening the connection between training institutions and the workplace. The 2026 Vanuatu National Skills Competition and International Friendly Skills Competition was officially declared open by MP Aru. The event is expected to provide a platform for competitors, trainers and visiting delegations to exchange knowledge, strengthen regional partnerships and promote the value of technical and vocational education across the Pacific. SOURCE: VANUATU DAILY POST

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Women Demand Action on Gender Equality Ahead of 2029 Elections October 19, 2026
Women’s development stakeholders have called on the Vanuatu Government to take stronger action on gender equality, saying decades of policies and commitments have failed to deliver meaningful representation of women in leadership. The call followed a two-day review of the National Gender Equality Policy (NGEP), held in Port Vila from October 14 to 15. The review brought together government officials, the Department of Women’s Affairs (DWA), civil society organisations, women’s groups, church leaders, youth representatives and development partners. Participants agreed that the Government must move beyond policy commitments and demonstrate political will through concrete action, accountability and legislative reform. Jenny Ligo, reporting on behalf of the participants, said Vanuatu already had policies and frameworks to advance gender equality, but implementation remained the main challenge. “Vanuatu has no reason not to be achieving gender equality. We have the policies and frameworks — what we lack is action,” she said. The review found that women remained underrepresented in political leadership, with participants pointing to decades of limited progress since Vanuatu gained independence in 1980. Only six women have been elected to Parliament since independence, while women currently hold just one of the 52 parliamentary seats. At the provincial level, none of the 101 provincial council seats is held by a woman. Although the 2023 Electoral Act No. 18 provides for reserved seats at the municipal level, participants said further measures were needed to improve women’s representation across all levels of government. The review also raised concerns about political parties’ commitment to gender equality, with 12 of the country’s 24 political parties lacking gender policies. Participants said the voluntary 10 per cent quota adopted by the Leaders Party had failed to deliver the desired results. The VT150,000 candidacy fee was also identified as a financial barrier that could prevent women from contesting elections, particularly those without sufficient financial support. Participants warned that the same challenges had been discussed repeatedly over the years without adequate progress. “We have spoken for decades, we have reviewed for decades, it is time for government to demonstrate political will. Women of Vanuatu are ready to lead. What is missing is space and support,” Mrs. Ligo said. “This is not just about women — it is about the future of democracy and the nation.” The review also raised concerns about public confidence in government, citing figures indicating that trust had declined from 96.5 per cent in earlier years to 73.5 per cent. To address these challenges, participants called for measures to strengthen women’s participation in decision-making and remove barriers to entering politics. One key recommendation was to introduce reserved seats at both provincial and parliamentary levels to ensure more equitable representation of women in elected positions. Participants also recommended amending the Political Parties Registration Act to require political parties to field at least 30 per cent women candidates, with sanctions for those that fail to comply. To reduce financial barriers, the review proposed establishing a Candidate Support Fund to provide VT150,000 each to 30 women seeking election. If all 30 candidates received the full allocation, the fund would total VT4.5 million. Another recommendation was to introduce a Three Levels Pipeline Program, with proposed funding of VT42.5 million to strengthen women’s leadership capacity at municipal, provincial and parliamentary levels. Participants said the programme would help women progress into leadership positions and prepare them to take part in political decision-making. The recommendations have been formally submitted to the DWA for consideration ahead of the 2029 national elections. Participants said decision-makers must now consider the proposals and turn them into practical measures that deliver measurable results. They also pledged to continue advocating for gender equality and holding decision-makers accountable for progress. The review concluded with a call for Vanuatu to move from repeated discussions and policy commitments to meaningful action, giving women a fairer opportunity to participate in political and public leadership. SOURCE: VANUATU DAILY POST

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Male Insecurity Can Lead to Harmful Decisions, Therapist Warns October 19, 2026
Psychotherapist Sue Harris says unresolved feelings of insecurity, guilt and shame can influence men’s decisions and behaviour, making family support and positive male role models important in helping boys develop healthy self-worth. Her comments follow Dr Sale Vurobaravu’s warning about men practising silicone injections, which he said could have serious consequences for their lives. The issue has raised broader questions about the factors that may contribute to such behaviour among men in Vanuatu. Harris, a registered psychotherapist with a Master of Arts degree, said some men struggled with feelings of inadequacy and self-blame, even when they worked hard and tried to meet expectations. She said these feelings could influence their decisions, particularly if they had grown up without emotional support, encouragement or a strong sense of belonging. In more than three years of practice, Harris said she had seen men open up about their struggles and become emotional while sharing experiences that had deeply affected them. She explained that guilt and shame could lead men to believe they were not good enough, potentially influencing decisions that could harm their lives. Harris identified family separation and divorce as factors that could affect a child’s development and influence decisions later in life. She said children who grew up without feeling loved, praised or supported could struggle with their self-worth as adults. Harris said positive male role models were particularly important for boys, especially when their fathers were absent. Joining a football team, participating in gardening or spending time with a trusted male figure could help boys build positive relationships and receive guidance as they grew up. “Boys need positive male figures in their lives,” she said, explaining that while women did their best to support children, positive male involvement also played an important role in boys’ development. Harris said some men continued to feel inadequate despite being hardworking because they believed they were failing to meet the standards expected of them. She said providing children with a safe home where they could express themselves freely and receive encouragement was fundamental to helping them make healthier decisions in the future. Harris said therapy could help men address unresolved emotional struggles, but the process should not focus solely on the individual experiencing trauma or stress. Families also needed to examine their relationships, behaviour and home environments to support lasting change, she said. She said addressing harmful behaviour required a broader change in family systems rather than expecting individuals to overcome the effects of their experiences alone. Harris provides clinical supervision to counsellors, support workers and community workers, as well as employee assistance counselling for non-government organisations, businesses and community organisations. Her comments point to the importance of addressing emotional struggles and family circumstances while encouraging men to seek support and families to provide healthier environments for children. SOURCE: VANUATU DAILY POST

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Rural women celebrated for strengthening communities, driving economies October 16, 2026
Rural women’s contributions to community wellbeing, economic development and local leadership were celebrated during a three-day International Rural Women’s Day event held at Eratap, Efate, under the theme, “Rural women rise up: Strong women, strong community.” The event was attended by Deputy Australian High Commissioner to Vanuatu Emily Fisher, Assistant Secretary General (SG) of the SHEFA Provincial Government Council (SPGC) Liah Kaltoi, members of Silae Vanua Association and community members. Deputy High Commissioner Fisher applauded rural women’s contributions to keeping their communities healthy and strong. She reaffirmed the Australian Government’s continued support for projects across Vanuatu that empower women in rural communities. SPGC Assistant SG Kaltoi reaffirmed the provincial council’s commitment to working with the Government and its development partners to address challenges faced by rural women, particularly in accessing markets for their agricultural produce. She acknowledged that, despite women’s valuable contributions to the province and the country, no women are currently represented on the provincial council. Kaltoi expressed hope that women would unite to secure provincial-level representation and become a voice for other women. She encouraged women across the province to support one another, work collectively and take steps towards achieving representation on the provincial council. Department of Women’s Affairs (DWA) SHEFA Provincial Officer Lilgai Laliet acknowledged rural women’s contributions through producing and selling local food and other agricultural produce. She also recognised the support development partners provide to women-led organisations such as Silae Vanua, which works with rural women to strengthen their empowerment and economic participation. Laliet recognised the role men and boys play in supporting rural women, saying that empowering women requires a collective commitment from families, communities, government and development partners. She said rural women’s work deserved recognition and continued support, as their contributions extended beyond their households to strengthening communities and supporting national development. On behalf of the Ministry of Justice, Youth and Community Services, Laliet officially opened the three-day celebration. The event also featured information booths where women could learn about available services, support and opportunities. Participating organisations, including banks and the Vanuatu Women’s Centre, provided information on financial services and other forms of support to help women strengthen their economic participation and wellbeing.

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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…

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