Vanuatu is unique in its blend of modern European ideologies and rich cultural traditions. As I am sure I have discussed before on this blog, Vanuatu’s history of colonization has become a distorted mirror of its modern day. Culture and diversity is a big source of pride for the people of Vanuatu but that is not to say that a history of colonization hasn’t impacted the country heavily, so much so, that when it comes to political ideologies and governmental systems, Vanuatu subscribes to a very Westernized view of the topics. It’s because of this that it holds very similar social justice problems to the West. Currently debated social issues include women’s rights, government corruption, incarceration rates, and rising sea levels. 

Although the constitution of Vanuatu limit injustice on a basis of gender, the country is currently struggling to limit domestic abuse and harassment of women, not only this but sex trafficking is also common within the islands. The constitution of Vanuatu also attempts to limit governmental corruption and support freedom of speech, yet recent issues of politicians coercing reporters to do their bidding has caused a suspicion that far more nefarious activities could be taking place behind closed doors. The prison system of Vanuatu is in equal disarray, as recent reports regarding two of Vanuatu’s bigger prisons have brought to light the horrendous living situations of the prisoners who are subjected to overcrowding and poor sanitation standards. There are also an alarming number of claims of unlawful arrests and disproportionate sentences being dealt. Finally, as global warming continues to contribute to rising ocean levels the people of Vanuatu are feeling the threat firsthand as their small islands begin to sink further below ocean level. These are just a few of the biggest social issues occurring in Vanuatu, yet these examples help us to compare Vanuatu’s human rights to the world around us and draw connections to how Vanuatu has moved through history. We are also able to draw some conclusions about the humanitarian living situation of Vanuatu and compare it to other portions of the world.

Police patrol the streets of Port Vila, Vanuatu (2007)