Women vow to petition PM

Aug 7, 2017 | Initiatives and Projects | 0

All Members of the outspoken Women Against Crime and Corruption (WACC) Group have unanimously voted in favour to take their “Zero Tolerance Petitions” on violence against women, to the Prime Minister this time, due to alleged lack of action by the 52 members of parliament, following their break-through march on parliament on March 21 last year.

WACC accepts the Family Protection Act has been strengthened but that much more has to be done by the Government to stop the abuse of women and their killing like animals, after a mother of four was stabbed to death by her partner in front of one of her children and another mother was hit and killed by a vehicle also in front of her child one morning in Port Vila last week.

Throughout history in Melanesian society, violence against women has gone almost entirely unpunished.

This time however, WACC which is a ni-Vanuatu Non-Government Organisation which operates without any Government funding, has dared to stand up against a heavily male dominated society after its protest march attracted over 1,000 people that impacted parliament that was in session, to endorse its petitions.

Even though WACC also gave copies of the petitions to all MPs present, the NGO President says their concerns have either been ignored as typical women’s complaints and left to collect dust on the shelves or they have been filed to be looked into later and it is now seventeen months after the presentation.

The document reads, “We, the women of the Republic of Vanuatu, who make up 49% of Vanuatu’s population, who God created as a companion to man, who have mothered progenies of the nation, have the following petitions to present to Vanuatu’s Members of Parliament. We request that you hear our petitions and take immediate remedial actions, to solve the problem that we women of this beautiful nation, Vanuatu, are constantly facing:

• Petition 1: We request a conformance to Zero Tolerance for domestic and physical violence to any women, girls and marginalised groups in Vanuatu and gangster brutal killing of innocent people of this nation. Any persons involved in the kidnapping and beating of a woman must be immediately investigated by the Vanuatu Police Force without delay and properly prosecuted for this criminal activity.

• Petition 2: We request that the Vanuatu Government request the Department of Women’s Affairs and the Vanuatu Women’s Centre who are receiving substantial amount of donor funding for the operations to join forces with the Women Against Crime and Corruption (WACC-voluntary NGO) and the Vanuatu National Council of Women to collaborate and effectively promote the safety and well-being of Vanuatu women.

• Petition 3: The Government of the Republic of Vanuatu must take the responsibility to run nation-wide gender sensitisation training for all men in Vanuatu to honour and respect women and not to treat them as sexual toys or domestic servants and recognise gender equality issues and the human rights of women and men of this nation.

• Petition 4: Include gender sensitisation curricula into school curricula to be taught at primary and secondary schools to gender sensitise Vanuatu’s citizens.

• Petition 5: Stop paying lip service and permit more qualified and capable women of Vanuatu to assume position of authority in Vanuatu public and private corporations to represent the voices of women and other marginalised groups of Vanuatu citizens.

• Petition 6: The Lands Transport Associations must engage with drivers and owners of buses and taxis to ensure that all parties are representing their interest in operational matters. We women urgently request the Vanuatu Government to enforce the role of CEO of the Public Land transport Authority to implement disciplinary procedures on any perpetrators of violence and brutal killing in Vanuatu.

• Petition 7: Order the management of the Yumi Toktok Stret/sense to screen all members and only allow members who are peaceful advocates of sensitive discussion topics. Any members, who are found to use profanity, take names and disrespectful words in any past YTS should be banned from the platform. READ MORE

SOURCE: VANUATU DAILY POST

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Mother shares premature birth experience during COVID-19 November 20, 2023
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1,816 sign petition as effort to end political instability November 17, 2023
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Ni-Vanuatu Women’s voices echo far at 3rd regional Community-Based Fisheries Dialogue November 16, 2023
Mrs. Rose Jimmy (left) and Mrs. Leisavi Joel during their Talanoa session yesterday. Photo: VFD Representatives from community groups and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) from across the region, gathered in Nouméa to take part in the 3rd regional Community-Based Fisheries Dialogue on November 14-15, 2023. This occurred as part the 6th Regional Technical Meeting on Coastal Fisheries and Aquaculture (RTMCFA), hosted by the Pacific Community (SPC). The dialogue provides a space for communities from across the region to share their views on issues relating to their coastal fisheries. During the second day of this meeting, Mrs. Leisavi Joel and Mrs. Rose Jimmy from the Havana Tasivanua Environment and Climate Action Network held a ‘Talanoa’ (shared their experience) session in front of an audience of over 100 participants from the Pacific. Mrs. Joel and Mrs. Jimmy were part of a special session organised by SPC and the University of Wollongong that discussed the importance of including voices from women alongside men in Community-Based Fisheries Management (CBFM). The growing collaboration between the Vanuatu Fisheries Department (VFD) and Vanua-Tai Resource Monitors Network was critical to making their participation possible. Following a panel of four speakers from Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia, Mrs. Joel shared, with passion and emotion, her personal experience and journey as a woman representative from her community working on sustainable fisheries management. “It is hard work for a woman to be actively involved in a male dominated area in the community, when it comes down to decision-making in our community, at the end of the day we have to look at the chief for his support,” she said. In regard to getting recognition from the community leaders, she added, “Sometimes the chief just sees us as a sister, aunty, mother or grandmother and nothing more, even though I am involved actively with our coastal and environmental activities inside the community.” Mrs. Joel and Mrs. Jimmy are the first women to hold a ‘Talanoa’ session during such a regional meeting and were widely appreciated. The session has demonstrated its value as a way to bring community voices to the regional leaders in coastal fisheries. The duo continued to actively participate during the 2-day discussion and want their experiences to set an example for other women in Vanuatu to become active members of CBFM committees in their community, with the support of men leaders. ________________________________________________________ SOURCE: VANUATU DAILY POST

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Civil Society organises protest against political instability November 14, 2023
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174 seasonal workers blacklisted November 6, 2023
Vanuatu’s Department of Labour (DoL) has revealed that they receive weekly complaints from the families of seasonal workers, particularly partners who request that their spouses be placed on the DoL’s blacklist for engaging in extramarital affairs. This year alone, the total number of Vanuatu workers blacklisted overseas has risen to 174, including seasonal workers from both Australia and New Zealand. Senior Labour Mobility Officer of Policy, Welfare and Compliance, Minnie Bani, reminds all seasonal workers that their overseas journey is intended for family purposes and not for personal endeavors. “Even if you are single, it’s your father and mother who sent you, not for you to go and disengage from the program,” Mrs. Bani stressed. “The family journey is the primary reason, and the family also includes children. Most of them have seemingly forgotten their children, and they do not know the pressure on the children when there is a conflict in the relationship.” She confirmed the DoL has encountered numerous spouses coming forward with their children in tears, seeking assistance with issues they have with their husbands. However, they expressed their limitations, stating they are not licensed counsellors. She further stated that the Department has introduced an initiative known as the “Community of Care Model,” created by the Australian Government for Vanuatu seasonal workers. This model involves team leaders, employers, and country liaison officers to assist the workers. They also aim to establish a referral pathway, similar to what the Department of Women is doing, to finalise the protocol of a safety net. “In cases of gender-based violence or traumatised children needing counseling, the Department of Labour acts as a vital point of contact. They guide individuals on where to seek counselling,” Mrs. Bani stated. The Senior Labour Mobility Officer mentioned that another goal of the DoL is to provide an actual counselling service. They have identified ADRA Vanuatu’s “Blossom Project,” which focuses on family life education covering topics such as reproductive health, incest, and domestic violence, as a potential resource. According to the Department of Pacific Affairs, reasons for blacklisting can vary, including alcohol abuse, property damage, personality differences, and power struggles between workers and their employers or supervisors. Some cases involve supervisors using power dynamics to threaten workers, leading to blacklisting. However, Mrs. Bani said the most common reason for blacklisting Vanuatu workers is alcohol consumption, which result in fighting, car accidents, and other alcohol-related behaviors. The Department of Pacific Affairs clarifies that blacklisting serves as a punitive measure against workers who violate program rules or exhibit inappropriate behavior. While some cases are justified, there are instances where workers are blacklisted without clear evidence of wrongdoing. The Department of Pacific Affairs further reported the issue of blacklisting affects employers and labour sending units as well. When workers are blacklisted from one program, they may attempt to enter another. “There is a trend of long-term workers being blacklisted, raising questions about whether complacency, multiple visits, or other factors contribute to this issue. It is important to understand and address the underlying reasons behind blacklisting,” the Department of Pacific Affairs reported. The DoL adds that since the scheme’s primary goal is to help individuals economically, a worker placed on Australia’s blacklist may have the opportunity to migrate to New Zealand. However, they may be subject to a two-to five-year stand-down period first. ______________________________________________________________________ SOURCE: VANUATU DAILY POST

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