United Nations HRI/CORE/VUT/2014 International Human Rights Distr.: General 19 February 2015 Instruments Original: English Common core document forming part of the reports of States parties Vanuatu* [Date received: 21 October 2014] * The present document is being issued without formal editing. GE.15-02832 (E) HRI/CORE/VUT/2014 Contents Paragraphs Page Abbreviations ................................................................................................................................... 4 I. Introduction ............................................................................................................. 1–3 6 II. General information ................................................................................................ 4–112 6 A. Demographic, economic, social and cultural characteristics .......................... 10–68 7 B. Constitutional, political and legal structure .................................................... 69–112 26 III. General framework for the protection and promotion of human rights ................... 113–148 37 A. Acceptance of international human rights norm ............................................. 113 37 B. Legal framework for the protection of human rights at the national level ...... 114–124 39 C. Framework within which human rights are promoted at the national level .... 125–141 44 D. Reporting process at the national level ........................................................... 142–148 46 IV. Information on non-discrimination and equality and effective remedies ................ 149–169 48 A. Non-discrimination and equality..................................................................... 149–168 48 B. Effective remedies .......................................................................................... 169 51 Bibliography ..................................................................................................................................... 52 Tables 1. Total population by province, census year and population density, Vanuatu: 1999–2009............... 7 2. Summary of government revenue and expenditure, 2009–2012 ...................................................... 16 3. Health facilities in operation in 2011 by Province ........................................................................... 17 4. Child Mortality Indicators, per 1,000 live births, 1989–2009 .......................................................... 19 5. Ten leading causes of hospital deaths and sex: 2006–2008 ............................................................ 21 6. Enrolment by province and level of education: 2011–2012 ............................................................ 22 7. Total number of seats per constituency, Vanuatu: 2008 .................................................................. 29 8. Total number of party members by political party and percentage, Vanuatu: 2008 ......................... 30 9. Total number of women’s participation in national elections since Independence, Vanuatu: 1983–2012 ........................................................................................................................ 30 10. Total number of registered non-governmental organizations, Vanuatu: 2011 ................................. 33 11. Incidents of violent death and life-threatening crimes reported per 100,000 persons ...................... 33 12. Number of persons arrested for violent or other serious crimes, Vanuatu: 2009–2011 ................... 33 13. Number of reported cases of sexually motivated violence, Vanuatu: 2009–2011............................ 34 14. Total number of police/security personnel per 100,000 persons, Vanuatu: 2010–2011 ................... 36 15. Total number of people who applied for free legal aid, Vanuatu: 2006–2011 ................................. 37 16. Total number of registration of cases, Vanuatu 2005–2011 ............................................................. 37 17. List of signed international human rights conventions and protocols, Vanuatu: 2011 ..................... 38 2 HRI/CORE/VUT/2014 Figures I. Total population by sex, five-year age group, and urban and rural areas, Vanuatu: 2009 ................ 8 II. Population in households, main language spoken in household and-sex, for urban and rural areas, Vanuatu: 2009 ......................................................................................................... 9 III. Ethnic origin by sex, Vanuatu: 2009 ................................................................................................ 10 IV. Total population by religion, sex and five-year age group, Vanuatu: 2009 ..................................... 11 V. Reported age-specific fertility rates (ASFR), Vanuatu: 1989, 1999, 2009 ....................................... 11 VI. Gross Domestic Product (current and constant 2006 price) and Gross National Income (GNI), million Vatu, 2002–2015 .................................................................................................................. 13 VII. Main components of GDP (industry or economic activity), Vanuatu: 2009 .................................... 13 VIII. % households and population below the basic needs poverty line, region, Vanuatu: 2006 & 2010 ..................................................................................................................... 15 IX. Consumer Price Index, Vanuatu: 2007–2012 .................................................................................. 16 X. GPI of GER and NER, school level, 2008–2012 ............................................................................. 23 XI. Proportion of women and men aged over 15 years and broad level of schooling, Vanuatu: 2009 .................................................................................................................................. 24 XII. Labor force status of persons aged 15 years and over, by sex, and in urban and rural areas, Vanuatu: 2009 .................................................................................................................................. 25 XIII. Total population group by industry, sex, and urban and rural areas, Vanuatu: 2009 ....................... 25 XIV. Distribution of 694 ongoing cases, court and location, 2011 ........................................................... 36 3 HRI/CORE/VUT/2014 Abbreviations ADB Asian Development Bank AIDS Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome AJC Advisory Jurist Council AP Authorized Persons ASCA Accumulating Savings and Credit Associations BRIDGE Bridging Resources in Democracy and Gender Election CBR Crude Birth Rate CDR Crude Death Rate CEDAW Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women CoM Council of Ministers CPR Contraception Prevalence Rate CRP Comprehensive Reform Program CPI Consumer Price Index DLA Department of Local Authorities DoC Department of Cooperatives DSPPAC Department of Strategic Policy, Planning and Aid Coordination DWA Department of Women’s Affairs ECE Early Childhood Education ECo Electoral Commission Office FLE Family Life Syllabus FPA Family Protection Act FPO Family Protection Order GEPG Gender in Political Governance GER Gross Enrollment Rate GDP Gross Domestic Product GNI Gross National Income GPI Gender Parity Index HIS Health Information System IFC International Finance Corporation IUD Intra Uterine Device ILO International Labor Organizations ITUC International Trade Union Conference KPHC Kam Pusum Hed Clinic MCA Millennium Challenge Account MoE Ministry of Education MoFEC Ministry of Finance and Economic Management MoFA Ministry of Foreign Affairs MoH Ministry of Health MoJCS Ministry of Justice and Community Services MOU Memorandum of Understanding MSG Melanesian Spearhead Group MSM Men having Sex with Men 4 HRI/CORE/VUT/2014 NAC National AIDS committee NCHS National Center for Health Statistics NER Net enrollment rate NGO Non-governmental organizations NPAW National Plan of Action for Women PAA Priorities and Action Agenda PCC Pacific Council of Churches PDIC Pacific Directors Immigration Conference PLWH People Living with HIV/AIDS PM Prime Minister PSC Public Service Commission RBV Reserve Bank of Vanuatu REDI Rural Economic Development Initiative RRRT Regional Right Resource Team SLO State Law Office SPC Secretariat of the Pacific Community TIV Transparency in Vanuatu TPO Temporary Protection Order UNICEF United Nations Children’s Fund UN-Women United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women UPR Universal periodic review USD United States Dollars VADB Vanuatu Agricultural Development Bank VANGO Vanuatu Association of Non-Governmental Organizations VBTC Vanuatu Broadcasting and Television Corporation VEMIS Vanuatu Education Management Information System VERM Vanuatu Education Road Map VESS Vanuatu Education Sector Strategy VFSC Vanuatu Financial Services Commission VCC Vanuatu Christian Council VCTU Vanuatu Council of Trade Union VLC Vanuatu Law Commission VMS Vanuatu Meteorological Services VNNS Vanuatu National Nutrition Survey VNSO Vanuatu National Statistics Office VNWU Vanuatu National Workers Union VNPF Vanuatu National Provident Fund VTU Vanuatu Trade Union VWC Vanuatu Women’s Center WB World Bank WHO World Health Organization WISDM Women in Shared Decision Making WSB Wan Smol Bag Theatre 5 HRI/CORE/VUT/2014 I. Introduction 1. The Republic of Vanuatu ratified the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women without reservations on 13 April 1995. It came into force under the laws of Vanuatu on 14 August