Vanuatu Cracking Down on LGBTQ Community: Report
The government of Vanuatu, an island country in Oceania and a popular tourist destination on the Pacific rim, is considering passing a law to ban the “promotion and advocacy” of the LGBTQIA+ community in the Pacific nation.
Australian newspaper Q News reports that in April 2024, the Council of Ministers (Vanuatu’s cabinet) first made a decision to limit the “activities” of the island nation’s queer communities.
Now, the country’s Ministry of Justice and Community Services is moving forward on plans to ban all LGBTQIA+ “advocacy and promotion.”
National Human Rights Coordinator Albert Nalpini said a committee will meet this month to discuss the national policy. He and other government ministers have singled out the local LGBTQIA+ organization V-Pride.
“The [Council of Ministers’] decision was made in response to how V-Pride advocates, promotes, and implements activities, including receiving funds from donor partners and non-governmental organisations,” he said.
According to Nalpini, the government wants “no advocacy, funding, or activities” relating to the LGBTQIA+ community in the country. The move has been welcomed by the island’s religious groups, which are predominantly Christian, and 93% of the population describes themselves as Christian.
The Vanuatu government has argued that V-Pride’s activities clash with Vanuatu’s constitutional preambles relating to “Christian principles and Melanesian values.” But legal experts in Vanuatu warn that the government’s proposed law would breach Vanuatu’s constitutional rights to freedom of expression.
Vanuatu is made up of roughly 80 islands that stretch 1,300 kilometers. The islands offer scuba diving at coral reefs, underwater caverns, and wrecks such as the WWII-era troopship SS President Coolidge. Harborside Port Vila, the nation’s capital and economic center, is on the island of Efate.
Is Vanuatu LGBTQ+ Friendly? A Quick Guide
- Legal protections: Same-sex marriage and civil unions are not recognized by the state, and there are no laws or policies to address hate crimes or violence against LGBTQI+ people.
- Cultural norms: Identifying as LGBTQI+ is considered culturally taboo, and there is limited understanding of gender identities other than cisgender.
- Social conditions: Vanuatu is a socially conservative country, and gay and lesbian travelers and citizens are advised to avoid public displays of affection.
- Government stance: The government’s focus is on upholding its interpretation of morality based on the country’s Christian and Melanesian heritage.
- Transgender rights: There is no legal procedure for changing legal gender or gender markers in official documents, which can lead to discrimination in employment, health care, and other areas.
However, Vanuatu has been a member of the United Nations since its independence in 1980 and recently submitted a proposal to the International Criminal Court pertaining to ecocide, as much of its activism and advocacy is focused on climate change, which is impacting the region.
