National Gender Equality Policy 2015-2019

1. The fundamental rights and freedoms of all men and women in Vanuatu are enshrined in the Constitution (Chapter 2, Clause 5 (1)). It also recognises the duties each person has to themselves and others to ensure everyone can fully enjoy the rights and freedoms (Chapter 2, Clause 7).

2. Gender equality is about men AND women. They are both equal partners, have equal roles and share mutual responsibilities in the development and growth of Vanuatu. Overcoming discrimination and violence requires the empowerment of women and girls, as well as the active engagement and education of men and boys.

3. Gender mainstreaming is a whole of government agenda rather than a sole responsibility of a single department. Strong leadership from the top, namely the Prime Minister’s Office is required to ensure gender-responsive approaches are systematically integrated across all government policies, programs and projects.

4. There is a high level of diversity among men and women; it must be recognised that certain groups are more vulnerable than others, including girls, young women, women with disabilities, widows and lone female headed households.

5. The strategies and actions identified in this policy are practical, achievable, measurable and relevant to the Vanuatu context to ensure stakeholders from all sectors work in partnership in implementing the policy and in delivering tangible benefits and outcomes to women and men.

6. The policy framework is not prescriptive. During the life of the policy, opportunities may arise that are not entirely aligned with the four strategic areas but have clear benefits to the achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of women. The policy makes room for such opportunities to be explored provided that they contribute to the overall policy vision and mission. 12 Strategy Statement The consultations and research undertaken in the development of this policy identified a wide range of gender issues and barriers faced by women and girls. While there were differences among provinces, certain issues were consistently raised by men and women as being a major challenge common to most communities and therefore requiring high level policy direction and intervention. Lessons from previous national policies on women indicate that focusing on many different issues without sufficient resourcing capacity can curtail implementation efforts; having a more targeted approach to address priority issues can provide greater clarity and focus for policy implementation and resource mobilisation, not only for government but for all stakeholders involved. Accordingly, the National Gender Equality Policy focuses on and prioritises the following four strategic areas:

1. Reducing Domestic and Gender Based Violence

2. Enhancing Women’s Economic Empowerment

3. Promoting Women’s Leadership and Equal Political Participation

4. Building a Foundation for Gender Mainstreaming Strategic Area 1. Reducing Domestic and Gender Based Violence Violence against women and girls is a serious and widespread problem in Vanuatu. It stems from multiple factors and certain social and cultural beliefs and practices exacerbate the problem. The National Survey on Women’s Lives and Family Relationships 2011 reported that 60% of married women or those with a partner have experienced physical violence, 68% emotional violence and 69% behavioural control by men (VWC 2011). In some communities, bride price and forced marriage are still being practiced (Molony 2014). The FPA came into force in 2009 and as a result the Family Protection Unit (FPU) was established within the Vanuatu Police. While the FPA has provisions for Authorized Persons and Registered Counsellors to provide protection to victims of GBV in communities where courts do not exist (World Bank 2013), the actual implementation has been slow and complex. The Government of Vanuatu, together with development partners and CSOs have been delivering a multitude of awareness and advocacy campaigns to stop GBV, often without consistent messaging on GBV issues. A key approach is to link GBV education to understanding about culture, faith and human rights to strengthen the effectiveness of community awareness and advocacy programs. To reduce domestic and GBV, the provisions of the FPA must be implemented and enforced, access and referrals to justice, health and support systems must be improved, and chiefs, community and church leaders, and teachers must be trained to end and prevent violence against women and girls at home, communities, schools and in all settings. The coordination and partnership between the justice, heath, education and local authority sectors, CSOs, faith-based organizations and media is pivotal to achieving this outcome. 13 Strategic Area 2. Enhancing Women’s Economic Empowerment The growth of Vanuatu’s economy relies on an active labour force that consists of both women and men. Similarly, women and men should fully and equally benefit from economic development opportunities. The majority of people live a subsistence lifestyle and rely on livelihood activities as their main source of income. Many women are engaged in the informal and traditional economy, including production and processing of food and cash crops (e.g. copra) and handicrafts. Income derived from such activities is vital for paying for food, clothes, and energy, medicine and school fees. Lone female headed households are more likely to rely on the sale of goods as their source of income than lone male headed households (VNSO 2011). They are also likely to own fewer possessions (e.g. canoes, cars, boats and TV). The situation for women in rural and remote areas is more limited compared to women in urban areas: they lack access to education, training, financial services and markets. Women’s participation in the formal labour market stands at 40% for both private and public sector compared to 60% for men (VNSO 2011). Lack of basic numeracy, literacy and financial skills among women restricts their chances of entering the labour market, obtaining formal employment and establishing their own businesses. Educational attainment is a key determinant of employment outcomes. Although the gap is narrowing, girls are less likely than boys to be enrolled in primary, secondary and tertiary education (VNSO 2011). Enhancing women’s economic empowerment requires the provision of and improvements in physical infrastructure (e.g. roads, transport, market facilities, telecommunication) as well as training services and supportive environments that enable women to participate, make decisions and own productive resources. Legislative changes are also needed to remove discriminatory barriers against women and to ensure equal and fair working conditions for both women and men. Strategic Area 3. Promoting Women’s Leadership and Equal Political Participation Ni-Vanuatu women and women’s organizations have been a cornerstone of Vanuatu state building process. They played a key role at the time of independence as well as in the shaping the country’s development. Despite this, only five women have won seats in national parliament since independence in 1980. At the last national election in 2012, no woman was elected as a member of parliament, despite having 17 female candidates contesting (Llo-Noka and Dalesa-Saraken 2010). In 2011, the Department of Women’s Affairs (DWA) proposed for the establishment of reserved seats for municipal elections as part of the amendment of the Municipalities Act. The Council of Ministers approved the introduction of Temporary Special Measures (TSM) in May 2013, which allocates 30- 34% special quota for women in Municipal Councils, effective only for four year terms (16 years). The quota system was used for the 2014 Port Vila elections in which five women were elected. The quota is yet to be applied for municipal elections in Luganville and Lanekel. The Gender Profile of Political Parties and Elections indicated that for women to have an opportunity to be elected, they need training in electoral processes as well as campaign support, political party backing and access to finance (Llo-Noka and Dalesa-Saraken 2010). The promotion of women’s leadership and equal political participation requires attitudinal and structural changes in existing political and decision making systems. First and foremost, voter education at the community level is critical for mobilising acceptance and support from both men and women towards women’s involvement in politics and decision making. TSM must be adopted for 14 national, provincial and municipal elections to ensure the representation of women at these levels. The recruitment and promotion of women into senior managerial positions in public and private sectors must also be encouraged. Strategic Area 4. Building a Foundation for Gender Mainstreaming Gender mainstreaming is identified as a key strategy within the PLAS which states: “Mainstream gender throughout all government policy development and implementation” (Strategy 3.4.1). However the process of gender mainstreaming has remained piecemeal and sector-specific. According to the gender mapping undertaken by the World Bank (2013), poor political will, lack of technical, human and financial capacities, misconceptions about gender being ‘women’s issues’, weak accountability and absence of incentives in tracking and evaluating progress constrain gender mainstreaming across the government. While some ministries and departments have developed sectoral gender plans and strategies (i.e. health, education, lands, agriculture, public works), there is a need for systematically integrating gender responsive approaches to all government policies, programs and projects (Government of Vanuatu 2012). Gender analysis must be undertaken in the design, implementation and evaluation of all government policies and projects to ensure interventions result in positive benefits for both men and women. National budget planning processes should also include gender assessment. The collection and analysis of sex and age disaggregated data, and sharing of such data across ministries, are a necessary part of gender analysis. Discriminatory provisions within existing legislation such as those relating to citizenship, property and inheritance rights, and marriage must be amended to comply with Vanuatu’s obligations to CEDAW (Government of Vanuatu Combined Fourth and Fifth Periodic Report 2012). As gender equality is a fundamental pillar for sustainable development, gender mainstreaming requires high level leadership and support to ensure it becomes part of conventional practice across government ministries and department. Consequently, gender mainstreaming is not a task to be delegated solely to DWA as its primary focus remains on women’s empowerment. This policy recognises that DWA will work closely with the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) to build a foundation for gender mainstreaming with a view that by the end of the policy lifetime, gender mainstreaming is fully driven by the PMO as a whole-of-government agenda. 15 Enabling Factors The policy identifies enabling factors or preconditions for facilitating the realization of the four strategic areas of the policy. These factors have emerged from the synthesis of the 13 critical factors outlined in the previous National Plan of Action for Women 2007-2011 and through the analysis of gender mapping (2013), PAA, PLAS and JCSSS. The Government of Vanuatu is committed to working with Development Partners, CSOs and the private sector to ensure dedicated budgets and resources are committed towards the following enabling factors and in turn create a conducive environment in which gender equality and women’s empowerment can be achieved. Education – Literacy and numeracy are fundamental to the empowerment of women and girls, and as such they need fair and equal access to education and training throughout their lives. Education of men and boys are pivotal in transforming discriminatory gender attitudes and practices, and in attaining equality and respect between men and women. Health – The emotional, psychological and physical wellbeing are critical to the development of all individuals. Women and girls have the right to access to nutritious food, safety, sexual and reproductive health, family planning, maternal and child health services, disability services, medical facilities, counselling and support services. Environment – This includes both the natural and the built environment, as well as the associated ecosystems and services, land and physical infrastructure that are vital to human survival and to livelihood activities. Information Access – Obtaining accurate, reliable and timely information through appropriate communication channels is an important element in the empowerment of women and girls. Whether it is information on health, education, employment, natural disasters or elections, women and girls are entitled to access the same level of information as men and boys in order to help them make important life choices. Societal Institutions – Gender norms are reinforced through societal institutions such as churches, schools, work, justice system, communities and families. Having institutions that respect and treat men and women fairly and recognize their abilities, knowledge and strengths is a key enabler for gender equality and women’s empowerment. Human Rights – Recognizing everyone is born equal with human rights and that rights cannot be taken away from them is a prerequisite to achieving equality between men and women. All individuals and institutions are accountable for respecting and upholding human rights. 16 Policy Strategic Plan of Action The Strategic Plan of Action has been developed as a vehicle for translating policy statements into practice and for mobilizing action and support from the government, CSOs, faith-based organizations, development partners, private sector, educational and training providers and communities over the lifetime of the policy. Each strategic area is accompanied by a set of key strategies and target outcomes. Strategic Area 1. Reducing Domestic and Gender Based Violence Key Strategies 1.1 Prevention of GBV through public awareness and advocacy 12 Actively engage men and boys to end violence against women and girls 1.3 Strengthen and improve protective, social and support services including protection of Women, Children and person with Disabilities in times of emergencies. Indicators  # of communities reached with messages of human rights, gender equality, GBV, Faith and Culture  Evidence on causal factors and costs of domestic and GBV researched and documented  Increase in reported incidences of physical and sexual violence against women and girls  Authorized Persons and Registered Counsellors are piloted at least 3 Area Councils of each Provincial Government. in all provinces  Survivors of violence have access to health services, counselling and support  Disaster risk management and planning addresses GBV prevention and response.  Strategic Area 2. Enhancing Women’s Economic Empowerment Key Strategies 2.1 Ensure equal employment opportunity for men and women. 2.2 Improve productivity, skills and income for women including young women and women with Disabilities engaged in informal and traditional economy. 2.3. Identify opportunities for boys and girls to pursue their educational and career pathways 2.4 Promote and support women in business in both rural and urban areas Indicators  Increased percentage of women employed in wage employment within private and public sectors  Equal employment opportunities for women and men are legislated and enforced  At least 10% increase productivity, skills and incomes for women in the informal and traditional economy  % of Gender parity is achieved in both secondary and tertiary education by 2017  Increased 10 % numbers of women owning business by 2019. 17 Strategic Area 3. Promoting Women’s Leadership and Equal Political Participation Key Strategies 3.1 Raise community awareness, acceptance and support for women’s leadership and participation in decision making 3.2 Encourage political parties to increase membership and participation of women 3.3 Amend relevant legislation to ensure women’s political representation at the municipal, provincial and national levels 3.4 Increase the number of women in executive positions within public and private sectors including leadership role within churches and community base institutions. 3.5 Promote women’s representation on national taskforces and working committees Indicators  At least 10 % increase in the membership and positions held by women in political parties  Municipalities Act, Decentralization Act and People’s Representation Act amended and temporary special measures are in place for municipal, provincial and national elections  At least 10% increase in the number of women in senior managerial positions within the public and private sector including leadership role within churches and community base institutions.  At least 30% of members of government taskforces and working committees are women Strategic Area 4. Building a Foundation for Gender Mainstreaming Key Strategies 4.1 Enhance the financial, technical and staffing capacity of DWA, Ministry of Justice and Community Services, National Human Right Committee and DESSPAC to fulfil its coordination and advisory function for the implementation of this policy 4.2 Advance gender equality outcomes within PAA including in the national budget and across all government sectors 4.3 Initiate research on relevant issues related to women’s issues and gender equality Indicators  DWA has at least 30 % increase in financial, technical and staffing capacity to coordinate and advice on the implementation of this policy.  Enhanced collaboration through MOUS and operational structure between institutions and organizations including women’s organizations to advocate, raise awareness and promote this policy 18  Gender Responsive Budgeting introduced and all government ministries have a gender strategy in place.  CEDAW articles are embedded into legislation and statutory reforms of government.  Gender analysis is carried out and sex and age disaggregated data collected for all government policies, programs, projects and budgets.  Evidence-based research on women’s issues and gender equality is conducted and shared between government, development partner and CSOs.  Climate change and disaster risk reduction policies, projects and governance mechanisms such as NAB are gender responsive. Implementation A strong and well-resourced national women’s machinery is necessary for coordinating efforts on the implementation of this policy. Previous policies on women relied heavily on DWA as a lead agency for implementing policy actions yet it did not have the technical or financial capacity to take on such a role. Accordingly, this policy recognizes the need for a proper budget, staffing and capacity building for DWA to take on coordination and advisory functions for the implementation of the policy. Policy implementation is not a sole responsibility of DWA nor will it lead all of the strategies outlined in this policy. Instead, DWA will leverage strategic partnerships with other government ministries, provincial governments, development partners, CSOs and faith-based organizations. DWA will also support stakeholders who are better positioned or have the expertise and resources to lead the implementation of the strategies identified in this policy. A three-year gender equality plan has also been developed for all provinces to implement the policy at provincial and community levels. DWA’s gender officers will work closely with their respective provincial governments to coordinate the implementation and monitoring of the plans. Monitoring, Review and Reporting The National Gender Equality Policy is supported by a separate monitoring and evaluation plan to track the progress of the implementation process and to identify areas where further efforts and resourcing are required. DWA will be primarily responsible for monitoring the policy through the review of its annual work plans and its internal monitoring processes. DWA will also be responsible for receiving and advising on progress reports from Provincial Governments on their progress in implementing the provincial gender equality plans. A Policy Committee will be established to provide independent oversight and tracking of the policy progress. The Committee will be responsible for holding the Government to account in addressing the strategic areas of the policy and will provide guidance and recommendations on strengthening policy coordination and implementation efforts. It is important to note that there will be a review of PAA and PLAS in 2015 and a new National Sustainable Development Plan will come into effect in 2015-2016. Consequently, the policy should be closely monitored to ensure it continues to be aligned with and is linked to the strategic objectives of these broader planning processes. 19 References Bowman, C., Cultural, J., Ellis, A. and Manuel, C. (2009). Women in Vanuatu: Analyzing Challenges to Economic Participation. Washington DC: World Bank. Department of Women’s Affairs. (2007). National Plan of Action for Women 2007-2011. Government of Vanuatu. Priorities and Action Agenda 2006-2015. Government of Vanuatu. Planning Long, Acting Short. 2003-2015. Government of Vanuatu. (2012). 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